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Prof.  Oscar  R.  Gleasou. 


Gleason's  Horse  Book. 


The  only  Authorized  Work  by 

America's  King  of  Horse  Tamers 

COMPRISING 

History,  Breeding,  Training,  Breaking,  Buying, 

Feeding,  Grooming,  Shoeing,  Doctoring, 

Telling  Age,  and  General  Care 

of  the  Horse. 


By  Prof.  Oscar  R.  Gleason, 

Renowned  throughout  America  and  recognized  b}^  the  U.  S.  Government  as  the 
most  Expert  and  Successful  Horseman  of  the  Present  age, 

AND 

Leslie  E.  MacLeod, 

Editor  "The  Horseman." 


F»ROKUSELY    ILLUSTRATED. 


BOSTON,  MASS.: 

George  M.  Smith  &  Co.^ 

No.   36  Bromfield  Street. 


Copyright,  1892, 
By  Oscar  K.  Gleason. 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  necessary  for  any  man  wishing  to  handle  horses  success- 
fully to  be  self-possessed,  determined,  and  to  give  some  attention 
to  the  horse's  natural  habits  and  disposition.  I  do  not  think  it 
is  claiming  too  much  for  my  system  to  say,  by  its  use,  any  horse 
.  may  be  broke  (regardless  of  his  being  previously  spoiled,)  so  as 
to  make  him  perfectly  docile  and  even  safe  for  a  family  horse. 

In  dealing  with  my  plan,  you  are  not  wasting  your  time  with  a 
•  mysterious  trick,  with  which  so  many  are  humbugged  by  unprin- 
cipled men  who  have  nothing  good  at  heart  for  either  horse  or 
man,  but  merely  want  ill-gained  dollars.  In  my  book  you  will 
find  the  principles  of  a  universally  applicable  s^'stem  for  the 
better  training  of  horses  for  man's  use,  producing  such  matchless 
docility  as  has  not  before  ])een  found.  The  three  fundamental 
principles  are :  First,  control— teaching  submission  and  docility. 
This  being  the  first  lesson  for  the  horse,  is  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, and  is  the  same  to  his  after  education  that  the  alphabet  is 
to  the  bo^^'s,  and  should  be  learned  perfectly  for  ease  and  success 
in  after  lessons.  Secondly,  let  kindness  run  through  all  your 
actions  toward  the  horse.  Thirdly,  appeal  properl}^  to  the  horse's 
understanding,  prudently  associating  mastery  with  kindness ; 
rebuke  wrong  and  reward  right. 

Although  the  horse  possesses  some  faculties  superior  to  man, 
yet  he  is  deficient  in  reasoning  power;  he  is  naturally  of  a  kind 
disposition,  as  evidenced  by  his  attachment  to  his  kind  kt  eper. 
He  has  no  thought  of  disobedience,  except  by  the  pernicious  im- 


—  6  — 

prudence  of  violating  the  laws  of  his  nature,  in  which  case  he  is 
not  in  fault,  but  the  violator.  You  will  learn  that  he  may  be 
taught  to  perfectly  submit  to  anything,  however  odious  it  may 
have  been  to  him  at  first. 

As  the  value  of  the  horse  is  daily  becoming  more  manifest,  it 

is  presumed  that  any  attempt  to  reduce  into  a  system  the  art  of 

)reserving  him  in  health  and  removing  disease  will  not  be  unac- 

^•eptable. 

It  is  certain  that  at  no  period  in  the  history  of  this  country 
has  the  horse  stood  so  high  in  general  estimation,  or  by  the  dis- 
play of   his  various  powers  rendered  himself  an  object  more 
worthy  of  our  consideration.     As  greater  attention  is  now  paid 
to  the  breeding  of  horses,  for  the  different  purposes  of  the  turf 
and  the  road,  so  should  our  anxiety  for  their  education  increase. 
The  object  of  this  publication  is  to  render  as  plain  and  familiar 
as  possible  a  subject  that  has  for  a  length  of  time  remained  ta 
obscurity.     The  want  of  a  work  advancing  practical  facts  and 
illustrations  has  long  been  severely  felt  and  acknowledged. 

In  the  suggestions  offered  in  this  book  I  have  preserved  sim- 
plicity in  describing  diseases,  and  have  prescribed  such  remedies 
as  are  accessible  to  all.  For  obvious  reasons  an  extensive  article 
on  telling  the  age  of  the  horse  has  been  included,  as  well  as  easy 
directions  for  detecting  unsoundness  and  vice  in  a  horse. 

Under  this  conviction  I  am  induced  to  lend  my  aid  in  bringing 
forth  the  present  volume. 

To  remove  long  standing  prejudices,  I  am  aware,  is  a  difficult 
task,  still  I  venture  to  hope  that  a  careful  perusal  of  these  pages 
will  excite,  in  some  degree,  the  feelings  of  humanity  in  respect 
to  the  many  sufferings  to  which  the  generous  animal  is  frequently 
liable  from  unmerited  cruelty  and  injudicious  treatment,  and 
that  mankind  may  be  induced  to  view  his  sufferings  with  an  eye 
of  sympathy  and  tenderness,  and  have  recourse  to  a  rational 
i.iode  of  practice  when  accident  or  disease  may  require  it. 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  publication  has  been  issued  from  the 
pv^as  of  any  country  in  which  the  science  of  horsemanship  has 
betn  laid  down  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  clearly  understood. 
The  present  work  is  so  familiar  in  its  composition  as  to  render  it 


-7- 

at  once  intelligible  to  every  one  who  may  think  proper  to  peruse 
its  contents. 

I  claim  the  honor  of  being  the  only  horse-trainer  or  teacher  ol 
horsemanship  who  ever  advanced  the  idea  of  introducing  Lis 
methods  to  the  United  States  Government.  If  they  are  used  ac- 
cording to  my  instructions,  they  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  the 
Government. 

This  is  a  daj^  of  progression.  Men  are  respected  in  proportion 
to  their  education,  intelligence  and  usefulness ;  governments  are 
respected  for  the  soundness  of  their  constitutions  and  intelligence 
of  their  laws  and  enforcement  of  the  same,  and  the  size  and 
efiicicncy  of  their  armies.  The  soldier  who  receives  a  careful 
training  and  useful  education  in  military  science  and  conducts 
himself  properly,  is  respected,  trusted  and  promoted.  I  contend 
that  the  soldier's  education  has  not  been  completed  until  he  has 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  great  art  of  horse-training  and 
educating  his  horse,  for  l.e  should  be  to  him  a  daily  companion. 
By  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  great  art,  to  which  I  allude,  he 
is  capable  of  judging  the  most  intelligent,  hardy  and  useful 
horse  for  his  department  of  the  service.  The  more  useful  the 
animal  to  his  master,  the  more  companionable  and  highly  appre- 
ciated. The  better  the  horse,  the  better  the  master.  I  have 
written  this  book  from  an  experience  of  over  seventeen  years  in  the 
stucly  of  the  training  and  education  of  the  horse,  and  if  these 
instructions  are  put  to  practical  use,  they  wdll  improve  the  mili- 
tary service  in  all  departments  in  which  horses  are  used. 

My  one  aim  and  object  is  to  get  my  methods  of  training  the 
noble  and  intelligent  horse  before  the  people  of  this  countrv,  for 
I  feel  by  so  doing  lasting  good  will  be  done  the  poor,  unappreci- 
ated dumb  brute ;  and  though  he  can  never  know  the  good 
I  shall  have  done  him,  his  master  will  be  able  to  appreciate  the 
benefit. 

Permit  me  to  state  briefly  that  I  have  traveled  all  over  the 
United  States,  and  have  given  public  exhibitions  in  all  of  the 
principal  cities  and  towns.  I  have  handled  over  twenty  thousand 
of  the  most  vicious  kickers,  balkers,  strikers,  plungers,  biters, 
bolters,  shyers,  and  horses  possessing  all  other  vicious  habits 


-S- 

known,  but  I  have  yet  to  find  the  horse  I  could  not  by  my 
methods  conquer,  subdue  and  make  docile  in  a  short  time,  yet  I 
have  not  injured  one  horse,  nor  is  it  necessary  for  me  to  be  cruel, 
for  the  method  used  is  simple. 

It  is  with  a  feeling  of  pride  -  for  I  have  earned  my  success  by 
honest}^  of  purpose,  straight  for  wai  d  action,  hard  labor  and  close 
study—  that  I  refer  to  crowded  houses  wherever  I  have  been  'and 
audiences  made  up  of  the  very  best  class  of  citizens,  which  is  the 
best  evidence  that  my  labors  have  been  appreciated  and  my 
methods  a  success. 

In  giving  out  this  work  I  have  tried  to  make  it  simple  and  as 
plain  as  possible,  as  I  do  not  approve  of  a  large  book  filled  up 
with  trash.  All  the  scientific  points  of  horsemanship  are  laid 
down  here  in  common-sense  talk.  They  can  be  readily  under- 
stood b}'  a  bo}^  of  twelve.  It  has  cost  a  large  sum  of  money  to 
engrave  the  difierent  cuts  and  to  make  them  plain,  so  they  can 
be  quickly  understood  by  the  reader. 

Hoping  and  fully  believing  that  where  occasion  requires  all 
persons  who  may  chance  to  peruse  this  work,  will  fully  carr}^  out 
the  instructions  laid  down  here  for  their  benefit,  which  has  cost 
me  a  lifetime  of  mental  aad  physical  labor  to  perfect  and  that 
both  horse  and  man  will  be  benefited  thereb^^,  I  am 
KespectfiUiy,  your  obedient  servant. 

OSCAR  E.  GLEASOlN. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


PAOB 

INTRODUCTION 5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  HORSE, 9 

INTELLIGENCE  OF  THE  HORSE, 15 

EDUCATING  THE  HORSE.— New  method  of  haltering  a  wild  or  vicious 
colt. — To  educate  the  horse  to  the  words  "  come  here  "  ;  how  to  get  a 
horse  up  that  throws  himself;  to  educate  a  colt  to  drive  before  being 
harnessed;  to  educate  a  colt  to  move  his  body  when  he  moves  his 
head;  instructions  to  ride  the  colt;  to  prevent  a  horse  from  kicking 
and  pawing  in  the  stall ;  to  educate  a  horse  not  to  get  cast  in  the  stall ; 
to  catch  a  horse  easily;  to  prevent  rearing  under  saddle  or  before 
a  carriage;  to  prevent  cribbing;  to  prevent  kicking  when  the  lines  get 
under  the  horse's  tail ;  bits  used  in  educating  bad  hor>es  ;  to  educate  a 
horse  not  to  be  afraid  of  objects  when  driving ;  first  lesson  with  the 
umbrella ;  horses  bad  to  bridle ;  to  make  a  "  single  foot "  horse  trot 
"  square " ;  to  educate  a  pacer  to  trot ;  to  educate  a  horse  to  trot ;  to 
educate  a  horse  not  to  kick  in  the  shafts ;  to  infuse  life  into  a  lazy 
horse ;  to  start  a  balky  horse, 24 


PA6I 


TEACHING  HORSES  THICKS.— To  take  a  handkerchief  from  his 
side;  to  kiss  a  boy;  to  bore  for  oil;  to  make  a  iiorse  walk  up; 
to  sit  down;  to  drive  a  boy  off  a  pedestal ;  to  shake  hands;  to  make  a 
bow  ;  to  walk  on  his  knees ;  to  be  vicious  ;  to  laugh ;  to  push  a  vehicle; 
to  ''go  lame";  to  walk  on  his  hind  feet;  to  say  "no";  to  mount  a 
pedestal;  to  waltz, ^      46 

HOW  TO  BUY. — Get  correct  information ;  the  buyer ;  proportions  of 
the  horse;  the  Cleveland  bay  for  profit;  the  light  harness  horse; 
saddle  horses  of  all  gaits;  the  high-bred  hunting  horse;  racing  horses; 
what  the  racer  should  be ;  how  to  detect  vices  and  defects ;  other  faults 
and  imperfections;  buying  cheap  horses;  color  in  relation  to  value; 
action;  fast  walking  horses;  what  a  horse  should  be;  form  for  pur- 
chasing,          54 

HOW  TO  FEED,  WATER,  AND  GROOM.— Laying  the  foundation; 
what  to  feed ;  when  to  feed ;  watering ;  kinds  and  quantities  of  food ; 
how  to  prepare  the  food ;  mashes,  gruel,  and  hay  tea ;  the  value  of 
hay  and  straw;  feeding  grain;  stable  care  and  training;  the  time  to 
clean ;  care  of  the  feet ;  blanketing  when  necessary ;  proper  tools  for 
the  stable, 75 

BREEDING  AND  RAISING  HORSES.— Importance  of  the  subject; 
the  best  stock  the  cheapest ;  hereditary  tendencies  and  immaturity ; 
principles  of  transmission  ;  "  in  and  in  "  and  "  cross  breeding  "  ;  treat- 
ment of  mare ;  how^  to  know  a  mare  is  in  foal ;  how  to  know  time  of 
foaling ;  "  slinking  "  or  abortion  ;  how  to  raise  colts ;  mules, 85 

BREAKING  AND  TAMING  WILD  AND  VICIOUS  HORSES.— 
Nature  of  the  horse  ;  names  and  situations  of  external  parts ;  questions 
and  answers;  handling  and  driving  a  colt;  the  working  of  the  new 
Gleason  bit;  the  stable;  circulation  of  air;  hay  tea;  how  to  make  the 
Gleason  surcingle ;  to  accustom  horses  to  objects  when  driving ;  you 
must  educate  your  horse;  bad  biters;  how  to  drive  a  horse  up  to  an 
object  that  he  is  afraid  of;  all  grades  of  balky  horses;  cleaning  collars; 
harness  and  saddles  ;  the  celebrated  "  Gleason  bridle  "  ;  answering  ques- 


PAGE 

tions;  ladies'  equestrianism;  regiilaiing  and  managing  a  government 
I'arm  ;  shipping  horses ;  special  to  the  farmer;  errors  in  feeding!  feed- 
ing during  a  hard  march  or  long  drive;  care  when  heated;  in  the 
spring, ,    .    104 

METHODS  FOR  DETECTING  UNSOUNDNESS.— How  to  examine  a 

horse ;  kinds  of  u  iSoundness ;  treatment, 220 

THE  TEETH. — New  method  of  telling  age;  the  teeth  and  jaws  at  various 

ages ;  a  poem, 224 

HOESE-SHOEING  DEPARTMENT.— Questions  with  valuable  answers; 
shoes  for  over-reaching ;  corns;  toe  crack ;  the  saddle  horse's  feet;  the 
soaking  tub ;  the  turf  horse's  foot ;  perfect  feet ;  packing  and  soaking 
horses  feet;  a  few  points, 241 

DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE.— Causes  of  Diseases,  269  ;  How  to  Observe 
Disease,  The  Principles  of  Disease,  270;  The  Pulse,  272;  Breathing, 
Treatment  of  Disease,  273  ;  H(jw  Diseases  aie  Cured  Without  Medicine, 
274 ;  Nature,  Symptoms,  Cause  and  Treatment, 275 

Abrasion,  Abscess,  Acari,  Accidents,  276;  Aconite,  Alternatives, 
Amaurosis,  Anicmia,  Aneurism,  Apoplexy,  277;  A[ihtha,  Atrophy,  .    .    278 

Back  Sinlusis,  Baldness,  Belly  Ache,  Big  Head,  Bishoping,  Bite  of 
Mad  Dog,  279 ;  Bladder  Disease,  Bleeding,  280 ;  Bloody  Urine,  Blood, 
Boils,  Bots,  Bowels,  282 ;  Brain  Diseases,  Breaking  Down,  Breathing 
Short,  Breeze  Flies,  Brittle  Feet,  Bronchi,  283;  Bronchitis,  284; 
Bronchocele,  Broken  Knees,  285;  Bruises  of  the  Sole,  Burns  and 
Scalds,  286 ;  Bursa  Mucosa  Enlarged, 287 

Calculi,  Cancer,  Canine  Rabies,  Capped  Elbow,  287 ;  Chapped  Hock, 
Carditis,  Caries,  288 ;  Castration,  Cataract,  Catarrh,  Cautery,  Cerel>ro- 
Spinal  Meningitis,  Chest  Diseases,  Chest  Founder,  Chilblains,  Cliill, 
289;  Choking,  Chorea,  Cold,  290;  Cold  Lotions,  Colic,  291;  Coma, 
Congestion  of  Lungs,  Constipation,  293;  Consumption,  Contagion,  294; 


PAG£ 


Contraction,  Convalescence,  Corns,  Coryza  Gangrenosa,  Corrosive  Sub- 
limate    Cougli,    Counter-irritants,    Cow    Hock,    Cramp,    295;    Crib- 
bitino-  Curb,  2y6  ;  Curly  Hocked,  Cutaneous  Diseases,  Cutting,  ....    297 

Death  Debility,  297;  Deformities,  Denteropathia,  Diabetes,  298; 
Diaphoretics,  Diarrhoea,  Diathesis,  299;  Diet,  Disinfectants,  ^00; 
Distemper,  Diuretics,  Dropsies,  302  ;  Dysentery, 30? 

Ear  Diseases,  Ecchymosis,  Eczema,  Elephantiasis,  Embrocation, 
Emetics,  303 ;  Emphysema,  Encysted  Tumors,  Encephaloid,  Endermic, 
Enema,  Ephemeral,  Epidemic,  Epizootic,  Epilepsy,  Epiphora,  304; 
Epsom  Salts,  Eruptions,  Erysipelas,  Exostosis,  Eyes, 305 

False  Quarter,  Farcy,  310 ;  Fatty  Tumor,  Farrier,  Fever,  Fever  in 
Feet,  313  ;  Fibroma,  Fistula,  314  ;  Fistida  in  Foot,  Fistulous  Withers, 
Fits,  315;  Flaxseed,  Food,  316;  Foot  Diseases,  318 ;  Founder,  325; 
Fractures,  326  ;  Fracture  of  Hip  or  Pelvis,  328 ;  Fungi,  Frost  Bites,    .    329 

Gangrene,  Gastritis  ^^ucosa,  330;  Glanders,  332;  Glass  Eye,  Gleet, 
Granulation,  Gravel  in  Foot,  335 ;  Grease,  336 ;  Gripes,  Grogginess, 
Grunter,  337;  Gullet,  Gunshot  Wound,  Gutta  Sarena, 335 

Heart,  Heaves,  338;  Heat,  Hepatic  Diseases,  Hernia,  Herpes,  Heredi- 
tary Diseases,  339;    Hide  Bound,  340;  Hip  Joint  Diseases,  The  Hock, 
341;    Hooks  in  the  Eyes,  Horse  Fly,  342;    Himianity  to  Animals,  343; 
Hydrothorax,   Hydrocele,    Hydronemia,    Hydrophobia,    346;    Hyper- 
trophy, Hypodermic,  Hysteria, 347 

Indigestion,  Infection,  Inflammation,  Influenza,  348  ;  Injections,  349  ; 
Intestines,  Itch,  Interfering, 350 

Jack  Jaundice,  Joint  Diseases,  350 ;  Jugular  Vein, 351 

Kidneys,  351  ;  Knees  Broken,  Knee  Joints,  Knuckling,    ......    352 

Lamene.-s,  Laminitis,  Lampas,  Laryngitis,  Leg,  Lice,  Ligaments, 
353 ;  Lipoma,  Liver,  354 ;  Loins,  Loss  of  Appetite,  Lumbago,  Lungs, 
356;  Lymph,  Lymphangitis,  . 359 


PAGE 

Madness,  Mad  Staggers,  Maggots,  Malignant,  Malignant  Epidemic, 
Mallenders,  Mange,  300 ;  Materia  Medica,  Megrims,  Melanosis,  Mela- 
uoid.  Mesentery,  Mesenterica,  Metastasis,  Moon  Blindness,  361 ;  Morti- 
fication, Moribund,  Mouth,  362 ;    Mucous  Membrane,  Mucus,  Myalgia,    363 

Narcotics,  Nasal  Gleet,  Navicular  Disease,  Necrosis,  Nephritis, 
Nervousness,  364;  Neurotomy,  Nose,  Obesity,  Oedema,  365;  CEstro- 
mania,  Omentum,  Open  Joints,  Ophthalmia,  Ossification,  Osteology, 
Osteophorosis,  Ostitis,  Overreach,  Ozena, 355 

Palliatives,  Paralysis,  366;  Pathology,  Patella,  Pasterns,  Pelvis, 
Pelvic  Abscess,  368 ;  Penis  Hanging  Out,  Peristaltic,  Peritonitis,  369 ; 
Periosteum,  Phagenda,  370 ;  Phlebitis,  Phlegmasia  Dolens,  Phrenitis, 
Physiology,  Physicing,  Pleurisy,  371 ;  Pleuro-Pneumonia,  Pleurodynia, 
Pleuro-Pneumonia,  Poisons,  372;  Poll-evil,  373;  Polypi,  Predisposing 
Causes,  374;  Prick  of  the  Foot,  Probang,  Procidenta,  Prognosis, 
Prophylactics,  Proud  Flesh,  Prurigo,  Pulse,  Puncture,  375;  Purgatives, 
Purpura,  Pus,  Putrefaction,  376 ;    Putrid  Fever,  Pyemia, 377 

Quack  Medicines,  Quinsey,  Quitton, 377 

Rabies,  Rachitis,  377;  Resolution,  Respiration,  Revulsion,  Rheuma- 
tism, 378 ;  Ring  Bone,  380 ;  Ring  Worm,  Roaring,  Round  Bone. 
Rowels,  381  ;  Ruptures, 382 

Saddle  Galls,  Sallenders,  Saliva,  Salivation,  385;  Sand  Cracks, 
Sanious  Pus,  Scalds,  Scald  Mouth,  Scarlatina,  Scratches,  Schirrus, 
Scouring,  Scrotum,  Scurf,  Secretion,  386;  Sedatives,  Serum,  Sirous 
Abscess,  Seton,  Shivers,  Shoeing  of  Sound  Feet,  387;  Shoulder  Lame- 
ness, 388 ;  Shoulder  Joint  Lameness,  Side  Bones,  Sinus,  Sitfasts,  390 ; 
Skeleton,  Skin  Diseases,  391  ;  Slough,  Soreness,  Soundness,  Spavin, 
395  ;  Specks  on  the  Eye,  Speedy  Cut,  Spleen  Diseases,  Splint,  Sprains, 
398;  Staggers,  399;  Stings,  Stifle  Joint  Lameness,  401;  Stomach 
Diseases,  Stone  in  Bladder,  Strangles,  Stranguary,  402;  Strangula- 
tion, Stringhalt.  403 ;  Stumbling,  Sunstroke,  Suppuration,  404 ;  Surfeit, 
Swelled  Legs,  Swellings,  Sweenie,  Sympathy,  405 ;  Synovia,  Synchro- 
nous, Systole, 406 


PAGE 

Tabanidoe,  Tabes,  Talpae,  Teeiii,  Tetanus,  Tetter,  Thick  AVind, 
Tliick  Leg,  Thiselo,  Through  Pin,  Thread  Worms,  Throat  Diseas..;^, 
Thrush,  Thrombus,  Thumps,  406;  Tongue,  'J'onics,  Toxicology,  Trache- 
otomy, Transfusion,  Tread,  Trepanning,  Tj  ismu?,  Tubercles,  Tumors, 
407  ;  Tympanitis,  Typhia,  Typhoid,  Typhosus, ,  .    .    .    4oy 

Ulcers,  411 ;  Urinary  Calculi,  Urine, 413 

Varicose,  Venesection,  Ventilation,  Vives, 413 

Warts,  Warranty,  413 ;  Warbles,  Water  Farcy,  AVeeping  Eye,  Wens, 
Wheezing,  Wliirl  Bone,  Wind  Galls,  Wind  Sucking,  Worms,  414 ; 
\Vounds,  Wourali, 416 


1\7 


Yellows,  Yellow  Water, 416 

CHAMPIONS  OF  THE  AMEKICAN  TURF, 421 

LAWS  GOVERNING  AUCTION  SALES, 4.J6 

LIFE  OF  PROF.  OSCAR  R.  GLEASON,  by  W.  Fletcher  Johnson,    .    .  4G1 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Prof.  Oscar  R.  Gleason  (Half-tone  Portrait), Frontispiece 

To  Halter  a  Wild  or  Vicious  Colt, 24 

Educating  a  Colt  to  Move  his  Body  when  he  Moves  his  Head, 28 

To  Prevent  a  Horse  from  Kicking  or  Pawing  in  the  Stall,  . 31 

To  Prevent  a  Horse  from  Getting  Cast  in  the  Stall, 32 

To  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  Kick  when  the  Lines  get  Under  his  Tail,    ...  37 

To  Start  a  Balky  Horse, 45 

A  Fine  Stallion  Showing  Thorough  Blood, 55 

A  Light  Hunting  Horse, 57 

Proportions  of  the  Horse, 58 

A  Heavy  Hunting  Horse, 63 

The  Nervous  System  of  the  Horse, 101 

Skeleton  of  the  Horse, 103 

Names  and  Situations  of  External  Parts, .  105 

Intelligent  Driving  Horses, 106 

To  Handle  a  Whip  Over  a  Colt, 107 

Training  a  Colt, 108 

To  Handle  a  Colt's  Feet, 109 

To  Break  a  Colt  to  Ride 110 

Gleason's  Double  Safety  Ropes  in  Use,      112 

Treatment  for  a  Halter  Puller, 115 

Relative  Measurements, 116 

Handling  a  Colt's  Hind  Feet, 117 

Gleason's  Head  Strap  for  Shoeing  Vicious  Horses, 117 

Perfect  Heads  of  Draft  Horses, 118 


— _—  PAGl* 

Gleason's  Bridle  Bit, 119 

The  Famous  Bit, • li^l 

The  Horse  with  Overcheck, 122 

The  Horse  in  Natural  Beauty  without  Check  Kein, ^  .    .    .    .  123 

Cruelly  Tor^'ired  by  High  Checking, 124 

Horses  Properly  Clieck-Keined, *    •   •    .  125 

The  High  Eack  or  Manger, 133 

Horse  Eating  Food  From  the  Ground,  the  Natural  Position, 134 

How  to  Make  the  Gleason  Surcingle, 135 

First  Position  Taken  in  Throwing  a  Horse, 137 

Second  Position  Taken  in  Throwing  a  Horse, 138 

Third  Position  Taken  in  Throwing  a  Horse, 139 

Fourth  Position  Taken  in  Throwing  a  Horse, 140 

Proper  Halter  to  be  Used  in  Throwing  a  Horse, 141 

Gleason's  Double  Safety  Strap, 146 

Starting  a  Balky  Horse, 148 

To  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  be  afraid  of  Objects, o   .    .    .    .  151 

To  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  be  Afraid  of  Steam, 152 

To  Break  a  Shier, 153 

Gleason's  Knee  Pads  and  Double  Safety  Straps, 154 

Horse  with  one  Foot  Raised  by  Double  Safety  Straps, 155 

To  Prevent  Pawing  in  the  Stall, 159 

To  Prevent  Kicking  in  the  Stall, 159 

Whirling  a  Horse  by  his  Tail, 160 

A  Horse  that  Switches  his  Tail, , 161 

Educating  Horses  not  to  Fear  Fire  Crackers, 162 

Educating  a  Horse  not  to  Fear  Umbrellas  and  Paper, 163 

A  Vicious  Kicker  and  Plunger, 164 

A  Last  Resort  for  a  Bad  Kicker, ,    .    .    .    .  165 

To  Keep  a  Horse's  Tongue  in  his  Mouth, 165 

Teaching  a  Horse  to  Stand  to  Fire, 166 


PAG  a 
Prof.  Gleason's  Famous  Revolver, 167 

Leading  Horses  in  Battle, 108 

To  Clean  Collars, 169 

Double  Draw  Check  Rein, • ,    ,    170 

Rig  for  Fence  Jumpers, 171 

To  Prevent  a  Horse  from  Tearing  his  Blanket, 172 

Grooming  the  Horse, 174 

Gleason's  Simple  Riding  Bridle, 176 

A  Gentleman's  Road  Horse^ 177 

A  Good  Business  Horse, 177 

Driving  a  Plunger  in  Double  Harness      179 

Clipping, 180 

The  Celebrated  "  Gleason  Bridle," 181 

The  Bridle  in  Use, 182 

One  Good  Form  for  Using  the  Gleason  Bridle, 183 

The  Gleason  "Eureka"  Bridle,      184 

A  Rope  "  Bonaparte  "  Bridle, 185 

The  Forward  Action  of  the  Bonaparte  Bridle, 186 

Gleason's  Break  Harness, 187 

Gleason's  Break  Harness  in  Parts, 188 

A  Breaking  Sulky, ]  89 

The  Single  Foot  Strap, 190 

The  Guy  Line  in  Use, 191 

Teaching  a  Horse  to  Pull  in  Harness, 192 

Shooting  Over  the  Horse's  Back, I93 

Throwing  the  Horse, 196 

The  Upper  and  Lower  Jaws, 228 

The  Foal's  Jaw  at  Birth, 229 

The  Mouth  of  a  Colt  Two  Weeks  Old,      230 

The  Mouth  of  a  Colt  Six  Weeks  Old, 230 

The  Front  Teeth  of  a  Colt  at  Nine  Months, 231 


PAGK 

Jaw  of  a  Colt  at  One  Year, 231 

Jaw  of  a  Colt  at  Two  Years, 232 

A  Colt's  Mouth  at  Two  Years, 232 

A  Colt's  Mouth  at  Two  and  One-Half  Years, 233 

A  Colt's  Moutli  at  Three  Years, 233 

A  Colt's  Jaw  at  Three  Years, 234 

A  Horse's  Jaw  at  Four  Years, 234 

A  Horse's  Mouth  at  Four  Years, 235 

A  Horse's  Mouth  at  Four  and  One- Half  Years, 235 

The  Mouth  at  Five  Years, 236 

The  Mouth  at  Six  Years, .' 236 

The  Mouth  at  Seven  Years, 237 

The  Mouth  at  Eight  Years, 237 

The  Mouth  at  Twenty  Years, 23S 

The  Mouth  at  Tliirty  Years, 238 

Pulling  a  Horse's  Teeth, 240 

Shoes  to  Prevent  Interfering  and  Overreaching, 244 

A  Foot  Shod  for  Quarter  Crack  or  Bad  Corn, 246 

A  Foot  Shod  for  Toe  or  Sand  Track, 247 

A  Driving  or  Saddle  Horse's  Foot  Properly  Shod, 248 

A  Toe  Tip, 249 

Effects  of  the  Soaking  Tub, 250 

A  Foot  After  a  Long  Campaign  on  the  Turf, 252 

Gleason's  14-Ounce  Shoe, 253 

A  Perfect  Foot, 255 

A  Foot  Perfectly  Shod, 256 

Moistening  the  Cornet  of  the  Foot, 260 

A  Toe- Weight  Shoe, 262 

Non-Paddling  Shoe, 262 

A  Foot  Ready  for  the  Shoe, 263 

Front  View  of  Scoop-Toe  Shoe, 268 


PAGE 

A  Hind  Foot  Shoe  for  Rolling  Motion, 2G3 

Side-Weight  Shoe  for  Hind  Foot, - 26o 

The  Charlier  Tip, 264 

Riglit  and  Wrong  Fitting, 264 

Sound  and  Contracted  Feet, 265 

Nail  Driving,      265 

Quarter-Crack  and  Remedies, 266 

Foundered  Feet, 267 

Ring  Bone  and  Navicular  Disease, 268 

A  Sling  in  Use, 328 

Position  of  Heart  and  Diaphragm, 838 

Position  of  the  Left  Lung, 356 

Medal  Presented  to  Professor  Gleason  bv  the  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,    .    .  433 


FULL-PAGE  LITHOGRAPHIC  PLATES. 


Anatomy  of  the  Horse's  Foot, 260 

The  Superficial  Layer  of  Muscles, 274 

The  Circulatory  Apparatus, 290 

The  Digestive  Apparatus, 320 

FULL- PAGE  HALF-TONE  PORTRAITS. 

Flying  Jib,  2.05f,  by  Algoiia-Middletown  Mare, 423 

Martha  Wilkes,  2.08,  by  Alcyone-Ella, 427 

Mascot,  2.04,  by  Deceive-Miss  Elmore, 431 

Vladimir,  Percheron-Norman  Draught  Horse, 435 

Nancy  Hanks,  2.04,  by  Happy  Medium-Nancy  Lee  (showing  ball-bearing, 

pneumatic  tired  sulky), 439 

M:iud   S.,   the  late  Queen  of  the  Turf  (showing   old   style  wooden  racing 

sulky),      443 

Morello,  Winner  of  the  Futurity  Stakes,  1892 447 


History  of  the  Horse. 


From  the  earliest  ages  this  noble  animal  has  been  the  friend 
and  companion  of  man.  Prized  for  his  beauty,  loved  for  his 
docility,  and  valued  for  his  strength,  he  has  ever  been  regarded 
as  the  highest  in  value  and  importance  of  all  domesticated 
animals.  In  the  remotest  ages,  as  far  back  as  authentic  history 
discloses  anj'thing  of  the  life  and  pursuits  of  man,  we  find  that 
the  horse  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  his  service.  Painters 
have  pictured  on  their  canvass  the  majesty  and  grace  of  the 
spirited  animal.  Poets  have  celebrated  his  strength  and  beauty 
in  their  verses,  and  even  inspired  writers  have  introduced 
amongst  tkeir  most  glowing  descriptions  the  horsemen  and 
chariots  which  formed  a  chief  feature  in  the  pomp  and  magnifi- 
cence of  those  early  days. 

In  the  most  ancient  hieroglyphics  we  find  him  present,  and 
always  so  represented  as  to  show  that,  even  in  the  remote  an- 
tiquity from  which  they  date,  he  had  been  bi  ought  into  com- 
plete and  serviceable  subjection.  In  the  oldest  Egyptian  paint- 
ings the  horse  is  seen  only  in  the  war  chariot,  and  in  the  de- 
scriptions of  the  siege  of  Troy  onl}^  the  Charioteer  appears, 
from  v>^hich  it  has  been  supposed  that  the  first  horses  used  by 
the  Greeks  were  too  small  to  be  conveniently  ridden.  But  in 
the  lately-discovered  paintings  in  the  palace  of  jS'imrod,  at  Nine- 
veh, disinterred  by  Layard,  and  supposed  to  be  more  than  three 
thousand  years  old,  horsemen  are  exhibited  both  in  the  chase 
and  in  war. 

But  further  back  than  even  those  distant  times,  in  the  ages 


—  lO  — 

where  authentic  history  laerges  into  the  shadowy  light,  amidst 
which  myth  and  fable  ming'e  with  the  real,  we  find  this  noble 
animal  figuring,  but  then  exalted  into  a  semi-human  sphere. 
The  Centaurs,  who  inhabited  the  passes  of  Mts.  Pehon  and 
Ossa,  and  the  great  plains  of  Thessaly,  in  Upper  Greece,  w^ere 
probably  a  race  resembling  in  many  respects  the  Tartars  of 
this  age,  and  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  who  brought 
the  horse  into  subjection  to  man.  They  were  fabled  as  being 
half  horse  and  half  man.  They  are  represented  as  perfect 
horses  in  all  respects  below  and  behind  the  withers  and  the 
chest ;  there,  at  the  insertion  of  the  neck,  began  human  a  body, 
the  hip-joints  articulating  into  the  shoulders  of  the  lower  animal, 
and  the  abdomen  of  the  man  passing  gradually  into  the  chest  of 
the  horse.  Above  this  the  human  form  was  perfect,  with  the 
erect  bearing,  chest,  shoulders,  arms,  neck  and  head  of  a  com- 
plete man.  They  were  reputed  to  be  possessed  of  extraordinary 
mental  as  well  as  physical  powers,  and  to  be  as  superior  to  or- 
dinary men  in  wisdom  and  art  as  they  were  in  fleetness  and 
strength.  They  were  evidently  a  tribe  of  horsemen  whom  the 
ignorance  and  superstition  of  that  early  period  elevated  into  a 
superior  race,  in  the  supposition  that  the  horse  and  man  were 
united  in  one.  Everjiihing  points  to  them  as  being  the  first 
who  succeeded  in  breaking  and  using  the  horse. 

Coming  down  to  the  times  of  authenic  histor}',  we  find  the 
Parthians  to  have  been  among  the  most  renowned  for  their  skill 
in  training  and  using  the  horse.  Their  feats  of  liorsemaDship 
in  battle  showed  a  complete  mastery  of  the  animal,  which  in 
their  battles  with  the  Romans,  rendered  them  so  efficient  as 
mounted  archers. 

Frequently,  in  ancient  paintings,  the  mounted  steed  is  repre- 
sented without  a  bridle,  and  the  Xumidiau  cavalry  are  said  to 
have  guided  and  restrained  their  horses  without  it ;  an  assertion 
by  no  means  improbable,  as  a  Comanche  Indian  of  the  present 
day  will  frequently  jump  on  the  back  of  a  wild  and  untrained 
horse,  and  guide  him  by  the  simple  expedient  of  covering  with 
his  hand  the  eye  of  the  animal  on  the  side  opposite  to  that  in 
which  he  wishes  to  direct  it. 


-11- 

In  moderu  times  the  horse  has  been  so  closely  associated  with 
man  that  he  appears  in  every  phase  of  society,  and  it  is  only 
when  his  numerous  uses  are  considered  that  we  realize  how 
greatly  the  human  family  is  liis  delator.  The  knight  of  the 
(hiys  of  chivahy  would  have  been  impossible  but  for  the  trusty 
steed  which  bore  him  so  gallantly  in  the  lists  at  the  tourney, 
and  amidst  the  deadlier  strife  of  the  battle.  Before  the  plow  and 
at  the  harrow  he  has  multiplied  the  productions  of  the  earth  a 
hundred-fold  bej^ond  what  human  strength  alone  could  have  se- 
cured. Laboring  before  the  loaded  wagon,  he  has  been  a  steady 
drudge  for  man.  Harnessed  to  the  elegant  equipage  or  the  hum- 
bler "  cab,"  or  bearing  along  the  dusty  highway  the  stage-coach 
he  has  performed  a  thousand  offices  indispensable  to  human 
comfort  and  advancement.  It  is  not  loo  much  to  claim  for  him 
that  civilization  itself  would  have  been  shorn  of  something  of  its 
present  fan-  proportions  but  for  the  valuable  services  rendered 
by  this  noble  animal. 

Yet,  with  all  his  acknowledged  value,  the  horse  has  been  too 
fi^equently  the  victim  of  neglect  and  cruelty  ;  often  ill-fed,  poorly 
sheltered,  and  harshly  treated,  till,  in  many  cases,  the  innate 
nobleness  of  his  nature  has  been  obscured  by  vicious  habits,  con- 
tracted through  the  mismanagement  or  abuse  to  which  he  has 
been  subjected,  and  perpetuated  b}-  ignorance  and  prejudice. 
Naturally,  the  horse  is  usually  gentle  and  confiding  ;  he  is  quick 
to  perceive,  and  possesses  an  excellent  memor}-,  which  qualities 
render  him  capable  of  being  educated  easily,  and  to  an  extent  far 
greater  than  is  generally  supposed.  Added  to  this,  he  is  capable 
of  deep  and  lasting  attachment. 

What  the  horse  may  have  been  in  his  natural  state  is  not 
known,  as  none  at  present  exist  in  that  condition.  The  horses 
which  at  the  present  day  are  found  in  a  wild  state  in  Northern 
Asia  and  America,  are  known  to  be  the  descendants  of  individ- 
uals formerly  domesticated.  On  the  prairies  of  the  West,  the 
pampas  of  South  America,  and  the  plains  of  Tartary,  they  live 
in  troops,  roaming  at  large  without  fixed  place  of  abode,  seek- 
ing the  richest  pasturages  by  da}^  and  resting  at  night  in  dry 
and  sheltered  situations ;  these  large  troops,  which  have  lived  in- 


-12- 

r 

dependently  for  many  generations,  entirely  exempt  from  the  in- 
fluence of  man,  probably  afford  a  tolerably  correct  idea  of  what 
the  primeval  animal  was.  They  are  generally  smaller,  yet 
stronger,  than  the  domesticated  animal,  with  rougher  coats, 
stronger  limbs,  and  larger  heads.  Even  when  adult,  the  wild 
horse  is  easily  domesticated,  and  may  be  broken  to  any  use 
without  great  difficult}^,  thus  proving  the  natural  gentleness  and 
docility  of  his  nature.  They  are  captured  by  the  lasso,  bitted, 
mounted,  and  broken  within  an  hour  by  the  daring  and  skillful 
Gauchos. 

The  Arabians,  long  renowned  for  their  attachment  to  the 
horse,  early  showed  the  extent  to  which  intelligent  training 
could  develop  his  finer  qualities,  and  render  him  the  most  docile 
and  obedient  of  animals.  Something  in  that  country  or  its  cli- 
mate is  especially  suited  to  the  development  of  the  horse,  and, 
although  introduced  there  long  after  his  domestication  in  other 
eastern  countries,  he  rapidly  attained  a  degree  of  excellence 
which  surpassed  all  others,  until  the  horses  of  Arabia  and  the 
adjacent  portions  of  Asia  and  Africa  became  the  most  celebrated 
for  speed,  courage,  spirit,  intelligence  and  docility  of  any  of  the 
equine  race.  Small  in  size,  he  has  a  beautiful,  lean,  bony  head, 
with  a  ver}^  broad  forehead,  a  tapering  muzzle,  and  large,  well- 
opened  nostrils;  his  mane  is  very  long,  thin  and  silk}^  It  is 
from  the  Arabian  horse,  crossed  with  the  Barb,  that  the  best 
stock  of  England  and  America  has  sprung.  Although  much  of 
the  superiority  of  these  horses  is  attributable  to  peculiarly  favor- 
able conditions  of  the  country  where  they  originated,  yet  many 
of  their  excellent  qualities  may  be  traced  to  kindness  and  intel- 
ligent training  by  which  those  qualities  were  first  developed, 
and  through  which  they  have  been  transmitted  until  they  have 
become  characteristics  of  the  race. 

The  Arabian  understands  the  value  of  his  horse,  appreciates 
the  nobility  of  his  nature,  and  treats  him  accordingly.  They 
kiss  and  caress  them  ;  the}"  adorn  them  with  jewels,  and  amulets 
formed  out  of  sentences  of  the  Koran,  as  a  preservative  against 
evil  and  accidents.  "In  short,"  saj^s  a  modern  author,  "they 
treat  them  almost  like  rational  beings,  which  are  ready  to  sac- 


-13- 

rifice  their  lives  for  their  master's  benefit."  In  the  desert  he  is 
the  familiar  comrade,  tentmate  and  playmate  of  his  master,  as 
docile  and  intelligent  as  a  dog.  Rev.  Y.  Monro  elates  an  anec- 
dote of  an  Arab,  "the  net  value  of  whose  dress  and  accoutre 
ments  might  be  calculated  at  something  under  seventeen  pence 
half-penny,"  who  refused  all  offers  made  to  purchase  a  beautiful 
mare  on  which  he  rode,  declaring  that  he  loved  the  animal  better 
than  his  own  life.  The  French  author.  Dr.  St.  Pierre,  quotes  a 
remarkable  instance  of  the  attachment  an  Arabian  feels  for  his 
horse:  '*  The  whole  stock  of  a  poor  Arabian  of  the  desert  con- 
sisted of  a  most  beautiful  mare.  Tiie  French  Consul  at  Said 
offered  to  purcliase  her,  with  an  intention  of  sending  her  to  his 
master,  Louis  XIV.  The  Arab,  pressed  by  want,  hesitated  for 
a  long  time,  but  at  length  consented,  on  condition  of  receiving  a 
very  considerable  sum,  which  he  named.  The  Consul,  not  daring, 
without  instructions,  to  give  so  high  a  prize,  wrote  to  Ver- 
sailles for  permission  to  close  the  bargain  on  the  terms  stipu 
lated.  Louis  XIV  gave  orders  to  pay  the  money.  The  Consul 
immediately  sent  notice  to  the  Arab,  who  soon  after  made  his 
appearance  mounted  on  his  magnificent  courser,  and  the  gold 
he  had  demanded  was  paid  down  to  him.  The  Arab,  covered 
with  a  miserable  rag,  dismounted  and  looked  at  the  money ;  then 
turning  his  eyes  to  the  mare,  he  thus  accosted  her :  '  To  whom 
am  I  going  to  yield  thee  up  ?  To  Europeans,  who  will  tie  thee 
clo.se,  who  will  beat  thee,  who  will  render  thee  miserable.  Re- 
turn with  me,  my  beauty,  my  darling,  my  jewel,  and  rejoice  the 
hearts  of  my  children  !'  As  he  pronounced  these  words,  he 
sprung  upon  her  back  and  scampered  off  towards  the  desert." 

It  is  not  surprising  that  such  a  high  appreciation  of  and  fond- 
ness for  this  noble  animal,  united  to  an  intelligent  training, 
has  resulted  in  the  production  of  a  race  of  horses  unrivaled  in 
excellence.  But  among  Europeans  and  Americans  the  treat- 
ment of  the  horse  has  been  usually  so  harsh,  and  the  mode  of 
training  so  deficient  in  intelligence,  as  to  greatly  lessen  his 
value,  even  where  a  brutal  ignorance  has  not  brought  into 
activity  every  vice  latent  in  his  nature.  Of  the  numerous  faults 
ascribed  to  the  horse  a  very  small  portion  are  chargeable  to  his 


-14- 

uatural  disposition,  the  remainder  being  the  direct  result  of 
vicious  training,  or  rather  of  tlie  absence  of  training,  and  the 
substitution  of  something  which,  under  that  name,  first  produces 
and  then  fosters  the  faults  for  which  the  animal  is  punished ; 
while  often  the  punishment  is  ineffectual,  because  the  animal 
has  no  conception  of  why  it  is  made  to  suffer. 

Education  is  as  essential  to  the  horse  as  it  is  to  man,  and  in 
each  case  it  must  proceed  on  the  same  general  principles.  The 
first  grand  lesson  to  be  learned  by  each  is  that  of  subjection  to 
authority  ;  the  child  is  taught  that  by  his  parent ;  the  horse 
must  learn  it  from  his  trainer.  But,  after  that,  knowledge  is  re- 
quired, and  this  must  be  imparted  by  methods  adapted  to  the 
nature  that  is  to  be  cultivated.  The  object  of  this  book  is  to 
show  in  what  that  knowledge  consists  and  how  it  may  be  com- 
municated to  the  horse,  and  so  impressed  upon  his  memory  that 
it  will  never  be  forgotten.  The  methods  of  breaking  and  train- 
ing the  horse,  herein  taught,  will,  if  early  applied,  prevent  his 
acquring  any  of  the  faults  which,  under  former  s^^stems,  have 
proved  so  numerous  ;  while  the  treatment  recommended  for  cor. 
recting  bad  habits,  already  formed,  will  prove  effectual  in  even 
the  most  stubborn  cases,  and  with  the  most  intractable  disposi- 
tions. The  reader  will  not  be  asked  to  accept  any  unproved 
theory,  but  will  be  instructed  in  a  sj'stem  which,  although  sub- 
jected to  the  severest  tests,  has  never  failed  to  accomplish  the 
desired  results.  That  it  may  require  patience  and  self-control 
on  the  part  of  the  instructor  cannot  be  denied  ;  but  so  does  the 
instruction  of  a  child,  the  breaking  of  a  dog  to  the  gun,  or  even 
the  training  of  a  vine  to  its  trellis ;  but  the  satisfactory  results 
which  are  certain  to  be  attained  will  furnish  an  ample  reward. 


Intelligence  of  the  Horse. 


In  discussing  the  intelligence  of  animals  I  am  aware  that 
many  persons,  at  the  outset,  would  question  the  propriety  of 
the  term.  Man  has  so  long  arrogated  the  exclusive  possession 
of  mind,  or  at  least  of  a  mhid  capable  of  rational  reflection,  that 
he  is  reluctant  to  concede  the  fact  of  its  possession  by  the  lower 
orders  of  animal  life.  Those  acts  which,  in  the  brute  creation, 
seem  to  proceed  from  the  action  of  powers  analagous  to  human 
intelligence,  it  has  been  usual  to  ascribe  to  an  irrational  faculty 
called  instinct ;  a  power  invariable  and  despotic  in  its  action, 
but  in  no  degree  the  result  of  reflection ;  some  metaphysicians 
even  going  so  far  as  to  assert  that  the  action  of  animals  is 
purely  automatic,  the  difference  in  this  respect  between  them 
and  the  automaton  moved  by  wires  and  springs  being  that  the 
former  possess  a  consciousness  of  their  acts,  Avhile  the  latter 
does  not.  Facts  in  myriads,  exist  which  challenge  the  correct- 
ness of  such  a  theory,  while  in  almost  number  they  assert  the 
existence,  at  least  in  its  embryonic  state,  of  a  mind  capable  of 
thought,  and,  to  a  limited  degree,  of  reflection  and  comparision, 
with  the  ability"  to  deduce  conclusions  from  the  facts  which  it 
considers. 

This  intelligence  varies  greatly  in  the  different  animal  races, 
in  some  species  being  barely  perceptible,  while  in  others  it  is 
too  conspicuous  to  be  ignored  ;  and  between  individuals  of  the 
same  species  there  exists  a  difference  so  marked  that,  in  the 
more  favored  ones  which  come  under  our  observation,  the  in- 


—16- 

telligence  is  so  clear  as  to  almost  startle  us  by  the  feeling  that 
behind  the  full,  liquid  eye  of  the  horse,  or  prompting  the  fixed 
gaze  bent  on  us  by  our  trusty  canine  companion,  there  may  be 
a  mind  kindred  to  our  own  and  which  lacks  only  the  power  of 
articulate  expression  to  respond  to  our  thoughts  by  answering 
sentiments.  It  is  the  absence  of  the  power  of  speech  in  animals 
w^hich  leaves  us  in  doubt  as  to  the  exact  degree  of  intelligence 
possessed  bj^  them.  If,  when  the  farmer  sa}  s,  "Carlo  !  the  cows 
are  in  the  corn  -  turn  them  out  I"'  the  dog  should  turn  his  head 
and  repl}^  '*  Yes,  sir,  I'll  have  them  out  in  a  moment  !"  there 
could  be  no  doubt  of  the  intelligent  interchange  of  thought. 
But  the  fact  of  his  doing  that  which  in  the  supposed  case  he 
would  exi^ress,  proves  as  conclusivel}'  his  comprehension  of  the 
command  and  his  purpose  to  obey. 

The  horse  or  dog,  however  fu  \y  he  may  understand  the  direc- 
tions he  receives,  can  give  no  other  response  than  b}^  his  acts, 
and  to  words  of  praise  or  censure  he  can  reply  only  by  signs ; 
these  are  clearly  understood  by  us  and  show  that  our  meaning 
is  comprehended  by  the  animal,  proving  a  real  interchange  of 
thought.  A  popular  author  has  said.  ''A  dog  may  bark,  a' 
horse  may  neigh,  but  it  not  by  these  sounds  that  they  express 
the  delicate  shades  of  ever- varying  emotion ;  it  is  by  a  thousand 
varieties  of  gesture  which  few  of  us  indeed  can  anah'ze  but 
which  all  clearly  understand.  A  dog  converses  with  his  master 
by  means  of  his  eyes  and  his  ears  and  his  tail,  nay  by  every 
muscle  of  his  body." 

To  test  the  existence  and  extent  of  intelligence  we  must  deter- 
mine the  capacity  for  comprehending  thought.  We  recog- 
nize this  capacity  in  a  child  long  before  it  can  express  itself  in 
language.  Its  dawn  is  seen  as  the  infant  learns  to  associate  cer- 
tain articulate  sounds  with  certain  persons,  acts,  or  tilings,  and 
to  distinguish  the  meaning  of  tones  which  encourage,  restrain 
or  chide  it.  It  is  onl^^  after  a  twelve-month  or  more  of  constant 
tuition,  lovingly  and  intelligently  given,  that  our  children  begin 
to  express  in  language  the  thoughts  which  are  awakened  by  our 
w^ords  and  acts,  yet  the  comprehension  is  as  evident  and  llie  re- 
sponse as  apparent  before  that  time,  for  the  whole  mental  pro- 


—  17- 

coss  was  perfect  long  before.  The  same  tests  wliicli  prove  the 
intelligence  of  the  cliikl  demonstrate  its  existence  in  animals 
There  is  a  similar  power  of  comprehending  the  wishes  ex- 
pressed, by  associating  certain  articulate  sounds  with  certain 
acts  required,  as  well  as  an  equal  recognition  of  the  tones  of 
voice  by  which  approval,  reproof  or  anger  are  made  known  ; 
but,  lacking  the  organs  of  speech,  they  are  debarred,  and  forever 
must  be,  from  any  except  the  most  limited  interchange  of  thought. 
For  this  reason,  attentive  stud}^  is  needed  in  ascertaining  the  ex- 
tent to  which  they  comprehend  and  respond  to  the  intelligence 
which  addresses  them. 

In  the  case  of  wild  or  undomesticated  animals  there  is  little 
opportunity  for  investigating  this  interesting  subject.  We  see 
the  beaver  build  his  dam,  and  we  understand  the  object  so  ad- 
mirably attained  by  his  work.  AVe  know  that  the  elephant,  to 
be  taken  in  the  pitfall,  must  see  on  the  earth  that  covers  it  the 
foot-prints  of  one  of  his  fellows,  and  we  surmise  the  process  of 
reasoning  by  which  he  concludes  that  he  is  safe  in  venturing 
where  another  of  his  kind  has  trodden.  We  learn  that  the 
ostrich  which  in  torrid  regions  trusts  to  the  heat  of  the  sand  for 
the  incubation  of  her  eggs,  will  in  a  more  temperate  latitude 
supply  the  heat  which  would  else  be  lacking  by  setting  on  her 
eggs  during  the  cooler  nights  ;  but  in  none  of  these,  nor  in  a 
score  of  other  cases,  in  which  there  seems  a  rational  foresight, 
can  we  determine  how  far  the  acts  result  from  intelligent  reflec- 
tion. In  domesticated  animals,  and  especially  in  such  as  are 
trained  for  the  service  of  man,  the  action  of  intelligence  may  be 
clearly  traced ;  it  is  demonstrated  by  the  ease  and  certainty' 
with  which  they  can  be  educated ;  it  is  seen  in  the  readiness 
with  which  many  receive  and  act  upon  ideas  communicated  to 
them ;  and  in  a  multitude  of  instances  the  mental  process  is 
evident  by  which  they  have,  independently,  reached  conclusions 
rationally  deduced  from  facts  of  their  previous  knov/ledge. 

Mr.  J.  Hopes  relates  a  circumstance  of  a  terrier  who  had  been 
temporaril}"  left  by  his  master  in  the  care  of  a  Mrs.  Lanford  at 
St.  Albans.  Tliis  lady  owned  a  large  house-dog  which,  disliking 
the  presence  ot  the   stranger,   quarreled  with   him,  biting  and 


-18- 

severely  wounding  him,  after  which  the  terrier  disappeared  ;  but 
in  a  few  days  he  returned  again,  accompanied  by  a  powerful 
mastiff,  when  both  together  fell  upon  the  original  assailant, 
whom  they  nearly  killed.  The  mastifl'  was  the  watch  dog  at  his 
master's  house,  more  than  a  day's  journey  distant,  and  had  been 
brought  by  the  terrier  for  the  sole  purpose  of  avenging  the  in- 
jury he  had  received,  after  which  they  left  in  company  and 
proceeded  together  to  their  home.  Here  was  displayed  a  power 
of  combining  ideas  and  of  communicating  them  to  one  of  his 
kind,  when  the  two  acted  on  the  plan  they  had  preconcerted. 

In  a  work  just  issued,  an  anecdote  is  related  of  a  dog  who  had 
lost  his  master  and  afterwards  became  old  and  blind,  passing  his 
time  sadly  in  the  same  corner,  which  he  rare'y  quitted.  "  One 
day  came  a  step  like  that  of  his  lost  master,  and  he  suddenH^ 
left  his  place.  The  man  who  had  just  entered  wore  ribbed 
stockings  as  his  master  had  done.  The  old  dog  had  lost  his 
scent  and  referred  at  once  to  his  stockings  that  he  remembered, 
rubbing  his  face  against  them.  Believing  that  his  master  had 
returned,  he  gave  way  to  the  most  extravagant  delight.  The 
man  spoke  ;  the  momentary  illusion  was  dispelled,  the  dog  went 
sadh'^  back  to  his  place,  and  lay  wearily  down."  Here  was 
a  double  process  of  reasoning  and  even  a  balancing  of  testimony 
with  a  decision  that  the  negative  evidence  of  the  strange  voice 
outweighed  the  aflftrmative  proof  in  the  step  and  the  stockings. 

Much  evidence  favors  the  belief  that  animals  not  only  be- 
come familiar  with  the  words  habitually  addressed  to  them,  but 
that  they,  to  a  certain  extent,  understand  our  language.  A  dog, 
belonging  to  a  friend  of  the  writer,  would  slink  from  the  room 
with  every  indication  of  shame  if  a  fault  of  which  he  had  been 
guilty  was  spoken  of  m  his  presence.  The  author  of  '*  Chapters 
on  Animals''  describes  a  dog  in  his  possession  which  clearly- 
distinguishes  between  those  visitors  at  the  house  who  are  favor- 
ites with  his  master  and  those  whom  be  dislikes,  and  adds: 
''  I  know  not  how  he  discovers  these  differences  in  my  feelings, 
except  it  be  by  overhearing  remarks  when  the  guests  are  gone." 

The  elephant,  though  one  of  the  clumsiest  of  animals,  exhibits 
marks  of  hiirh  intellij^cence,  and  evident Iv  understands  the  Ian- 


-19- 

guage  iu  wliicli  he  is  addressed  lie  can  be  stimulated  to  un- 
usual exertions  by  the  promise  of  a  reward.  "  I  have  seen," 
sa^'s  a  French  writer,  "  two  occupied  in  beating  down  a  wall 
which  their  keepers  had  desired  them  to  do  and  encouraged  them 
by  a  promise  of  fruits  and  brand3^"  They  were  left  alone  and 
continued  at  the  work,  stimulated  by  the  i^romised  reward,  until 
it  was  accomplished.  "  When  a  reward  is  promised  to  an 
elephant,"  says  the  same  author,  ^'  it  is  dangerous  to  disapx)oint 
him,  as  he  never  fails  to  revenge  the  insult."  Nothing  of  this 
could  occur  without  an  understanding  of  the  larguage. 

In  India  they  were  formerly  employed  to  launch  vessels,  and 
it  is  related  that  one  being  directed  to  force  a  large  ship  into 
the  water,  the  task  proved  beyond  his  strength  ;  whereupon  his 
master,  in  a  sarcastic  tone,  ordered  the  keeper  to  take  away 
this  lazy  beast  and  bring  another  ;  the  poor  animal,  as  if  stung 
by  shame,  instantly  repeated  his  efforts,  fractured  his  skull 
and  died  on  the  spot. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  tones  of  the  voice  rather  than  the 
words  are  what  the  animal  understands,  yet  a  dog  knows  his 
name  however  spoken,  and  a  horse  untlerstands  a  whole  voca- 
bulary of  orders.  But  the  intelligence  which  comprehends  the 
meaning  of  a  tone,  is  not  less  than  that  required  to  understand 
a  word  or  sentence.  Mr.  Hamorton,  the  artist,  widely  known  as 
a  lover  of  animals,  mentions  a  favorite  dog  which  met  an  un- 
timely death  by  drowning,  and  in  his  lament  over  his  lost  pet, 
saj^s;  ''He  Avas  a  dog  of  rare  gifts,  exceptionally  intelligent, 
who  would  obey  a  look  where  another  needed  an  order.  He 
would  sit  studying  his  master's  face  and  had  become  from  care- 
ful observation  so  acute  a  physiognomist  that  he  read  whatever 
thoughts  of  mine  had  any  concern  for  him." 

The  shrewd  intelligence  of  our  countrymen  is  nowhere  more 
clearly  seen  than  in  the  keen  bargains  the  New  Englander  is 
famous  for  driving.  But  our  domestic  animals  make  bargains 
with  us  and  sometimes  resolutely  keep  us  to  them.  On  this 
point  a  pleasant  writer  relates  an  anecdote  of  a  favorite  mare 
who  was  so  difficult  to  catch  in  the  pasture  as  to  often  require 
six  men  to  eflect  it;  ''  but,"  says  he,  ''I  carried  corn  to  her  for 


—  20  — 

a  long  time,  without  trying  to  take  lier,  leaving  her  the  corn  on 
the  ground.  IN'ext,  I  induced  her  to  eat  the  corn  while  I  held  it 
still  leaving  her  free.  Finally  I  persuaded  her  to  follow  me,  and 
now  she  will  come  trotting  half  a  mile  at  my  whistle,  leaping 
ditches,  fording  brooks,  in  the  darkness  and  rain,  or  in  impene- 
trable fog.  She  follows  me  like  a  dog  to  the  stable  and  I  admin- 
ister the  corn  there.  But  it  is  a  bargain  ;  she  knowingly  sells 
her  liberty  for  the  corn.  The  experiment  of  reducing  the  re- 
ward to  test  her  behavior  having  been  tried,  she  ceased  to  obey 
the  whistle  and  resumed  her  former  habits ;  but  the  full  and  due 
quantity  having  been  restored,  she  yielded  her  liberty  again 
without  resistance,  and  since  then  she  is  not  to  be  cheated." 

A  horse  which  is  regularly  used  for  attending  church,  will, 
fi'om  its  own  observation,  learn  to  recognize  the  Sabbath  and  un- 
derstand the  meaning  of  the  church  bells.  The  following  inter- 
esting illustration  of  this  fact  is  authenticated  bj^  the  Hartford 
Post: 

^'  A  x>air  of  horses  that  had  been  used  during  the  week  in 
team-work  to  Springfield,  on  Sunday  were  harnessed  and  driven 
to  the  door  unhitched,  and,  the  family  being  rather  tardy  that 
morning,  as  soon  as  the  second  bell  began  to  ring  the  horses 
started  off  alone,  and  with  their  usual  Sunda}^  motion  went  up  in 
front  of  the  church,  when,  after  waiting  the  usual  time,  they 
quietly  went  around  under  the  horse-shed.'' 

Here  the  horses  plainly  understood  the  distinction  between  that 
day  and  the  six  previous  ones  when  thej^  had  been  driven  to 
Springfield,  else  they  would  have  gone,  after  starting,  to  where 
they  had  been  going  through  the  week ;  thej^  also  evidently  un- 
derstood that  at  tlie  ringing  of  the  second  bell  it  was  time  to 
start  for  church.  The  gentleman  who  communicated  the  fore- 
going adds  an  instance  which  occurred  in  his  own  family : 

''The  father  of  the  writer,  owing  to  increasing  infirmities, 
rode  alone  to  meeting,  half  a  mile,  driving  an  old  grey  mare 
twenty  years  old,  and  had  not  failed  of  going  every  Sabbath  fur 
some  years.  On  one  occasion,  owing  to  a  fall,  he  could  not  go  to 
meeting,  and  on  Sunday  morning,  as  the  time  for  meeting  ap- 
proached, the  horse,  in  a  lot  near  the  house,   manifested  great 


-21  — 

uneasiness,  and  when  the  second  bell  struck  vshe  leai)ed  over  the 
fence  and  trotted  quietly  to  church,  stopping  at  her  usual  hitch 
ing-place,  under  an  old  elm  tree,  until  the   close   of  the   service, 
when  the  Aiithful  animal  returned  safely  to  the  house." 

When  we  remember  that  such  exhibitions  of  intelligence  occur 
continually  where  the  animals  have  received  no  training  on  the 
subjects  to  which  they  relate,  it  seems  certain  that  they  are  the 
result  of  a  mental  process  which  strongly  resembles  thought,  an(] 
we  would  expect,  from  patient  culture,  display's  of  intelligence 
greatly  in  advance  of  those  ordinarily  taking  place.  Such  an 
expectation  is  justified  by  the  results  which  have  followed  train- 
ing when  directed  to  this  end.  In  a  paper  entitled  '"Canine 
Guests,"  Philip  Gilbert  Hamerton  gives  an  account  of  the  trained 
dogs  of  M.  du  Rouil  which,  but  for  the  unimpeachable  veracity 
of  the  writer,  would  be  almost  incredible.  M.  du  Eouil  began  to 
educate  his  first  dog  out  of  curiosity  to  see  the  eflcet  of  the  sort 
of  education  which  seemed  to  him  best  adapted  for  establishing 
a  close  understanding  between  the  human  and  canine  minds  ;  the 
results  astonished  himself  and  were  so  gratifying  that  he  sub- 
sequently educated  two  others  on  the  same  principles.  Two  of 
these  dogs,  ''Blanche"  and  "Lyda,"  with  their  master,  were  guests 
of  Mr.  Hamerton,  and  the  intelligence  they  exhibited,  and  which 
he  describes,  is,  b}^  his  own  admission,  "incredible,"  yet  may  be 
so  only  because  of  our  ignorance  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
mental  powers  belonging  to  the  animal  creation.  Among  the 
many  feats  performed  by  them  were  the  spelling  of  words  by 
lettered  cards;  the  correction  of  words  purposely  misspelled; 
the  working  out  of  simple  problems  in  aritlimetic  and  the  playing 
of  cards  and  dominoes.  Of  the  latter,  Mr.  Hamerton  says: 
"Both  the  dogs  played  a  game  at  dominoes.  This  was  managed 
as  follows :  the  dogs  sat  on  chairs  opposite  each  other,  and  took 
up  the  domino  that  was  wanted ;  but  the  master  placed  it  in  its 
position  and  kept  announcing  the  state  of  the  game.  Their  dis- 
tress when  they  could  not  go  on  without  drawing  from  the  bank 
was  announced  in  piteous  whines,  and  amused  us  all  exceedingly. 
Lyda  was  the  loser,  and  precipitately  retreated  to  hide  herself 
with  an  evident  consciousness  of  defeat." 


—  22  — 

An  incident  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  evening  which 
showed  some  understanding  of  language.  A  little  girl  wanted 
Blanche  to  come  to  her,  but  the  dog  kept  awa}',  on  which  M.  du 
Rouil  said,  ''Blanche,  go  salute  the  little  girl !"  She  immediatel}^ 
went  up  to  the  child  and  made  a  formal  obeisance. 

The  owner  of  Blanche  stated  that  he  was  going  home  one  night 
accompanied  by  the  dog  and  on  his  way  saw  a  man  who  was 
searching  for  some  object  that  he  had  lost.  ''What  are  you  seek- 
ing?" he  asked.  The  man  answered  that  he  had  lost  280  francs 
''Possibl}^  my  dog  may  be  able  to  find  them  for  you;  have  you 
any  money  left?  If  you  have,  show  her  a  piece  of  gold."  It  was 
done  and  the  dog  directed  to  search.  She  at  once  set  out  and 
soon  returned,  bringing  first  one  piece  of  gold,  then  another, 
and  then  a  bank-note,  till  the  whole  sum  that  had  been  lost  was 
FHgained. 

M.  du  Rouil  said  that  Blanche  really  knew  all  the  letters  and 
the  playing-cards  by  their  names,  and  Lyda  really  knew  all  the 
figures.  In  addition  to  this  Blanche  had  studied  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  words  in  different  languages,  something  like 
twentj^  in  each  language.  So  it  was  with  'Ljda  and  the  figures. 
She  knew  each  one  b}^  its  name,  and  would  bring  the  one  called 
for.  In  describing  the  earlier  stages  of  training  through  which 
these  dogs  had  passed,  their  owner  said  the  first  thing  was  to 
make  the  dog  fetch  an  object,  the  next  to  make  him  discriminate 
betAveen  one  of  two  very  different  objects  placed  together,  and 
bring  one  or  the  other  as  it  was  mentioned  by  its  name.  In  be- 
ginning the  alphabet  he  put  two  most  dissimilar  letters  side  by 
side  to  begin  with,  such  as  a^i  O  and  an  I,  avoiding  the  confusion 
of  similar  ones,  such  as  O  and  Q  or  B  and  R.  Gradually  the 
dog  became  observant  enough  to  discriminate  between  letters  in 
which  the  difference  was  not  so  marked.  M.  du  Rouil  said  he 
had  found  the  gi-eatest  difficulty  in  teaching  Blanche  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  knaves  and  kings  in  playing-cards, 
but  that  she  learned  the  aces  very  promptly.  When  he  was 
asked  what  after  his  ten  years'  experience,  was  his  opinion 
of  the  intelligence  of  dogs,  he  answered,  with  great  emphasis, 
''it  is  infinite." 


—  23  — 

In  subsequent  pages  I  shall  set  forth  my  method  of  educaling 
horses  fo**  common  usefulness  and  to  perform  a  variety  of  feats, 
and  from  the  ideas  thus  impart<'d  the  reader  may  multiply  the 
number  of  tricks  to  any  desired  limit. 


Educating  the  Horse. 


New  Method  of  Haltering  a  Vicious  or  Wild  Coltc 


New  Method  of  Haltering  a  Vicious  Colt. 

Having  directed  my  attention  for  many  years  to  compiling  a 
system  of  educat:ing  the  horse,  and  traveling  over  twenty-five 
States  of  the  Union,  together  with  nearly  all  the  cities  and 
towns  in  the  Provinces  of  Ontario  and  Quebec,  during  the  past 
eight  3^ears,  it  is  highly  improbable  that  few,  if  any,  men  are 


—  25  — 

better  prepared  to  impart  instruction  or  to  give  direction  with 
regard  to  the  management  of  the  horse  than  myself. 

I  deem  it  advisable  to  give  special  directions  to  those  who 
raise  colts,  not  only  as  to  their  manner  of  treatment  and  educa- 
tion, but  knowing  full  well  the  difficulty  sometimes  attending 
the  first  haltering  of  wild  colts,  I  have  prepared  the  accom- 
panying plate  as  illustrative  of  my  method,  and  now  proceed  to 
give  directions  which,  if  strictly  followed  will  insure  success. 

Take  a  i)ole  about  ten  feet  long;  drive  a  nail  near  the  end, 
then  drive  another  about  fifteen  inches  from  it ;  now  take  a  rox)e 
halter,  and  hang  the  part  that  goes  on  the  top  of  the  head  on 
tliese  nails  ;  then  enlarge  the  nose-piece,  by  means  of  the  slip- 
noose,  sufficiently  to  allow  it  to  slip  on  easily,  observing  to  hold 
the  halter  stale  in  your  hands  with  the  pole  ;  approach  yoxir 
colt  with  great  care,  and  allow  him  to  smell  of  the  halter,  and, 
in  a  few  minutes,  he  will  yield  to  your  advances,  and  allow  you 
to  place  the  halter  on  him  without  much  difficult}^  Make  the 
shank  or  stale  of  the  halter  about  three  times  the  ordinary 
length,  for,  as  soon  as  he  finds  himself  caught,  he  will  use  his 
best  exertions  to  get  away  from  j^ou. 

To  Educate  the  Horse  to  the  Words  "  Come  Here." 

Place  a  Comanche  bridle  on  the  horse,  made  as  follows  :  take 
a  small  cord  about  sixteen  feet  long,  tie  the  end  around  the  neck 
firmly,  so  that  it  cannot  slip ;  then  double  your  cord,  placing  it 
under  the  neck,  from  the  shoulder  to  the  mouth ;  step  back  at 
the  side  of  your  horse,  and  say  ^'  Come  here ;"  at  the  same  time 
give  him  a  sharp  jerk,  and  he  will  swing  around  to  3^ on ;  when 
he  comes, caress  him  with  your  hand  on  the  shoulder;  now  re- 
peat the  same  on  opposite  side,  remembering  to  caress  each 
time;  do  this  four  or  five  times,  and  you  will  find  that, your 
horse  v/ill  obey  and  fullj^  understand  the  words  ''  come  here." 
Alwaj^s  speak  the  words  with  a  distinct  and  commanding  tone  of 
voice. 

I  desire  that  the  reader  may  understand  that  obedience  in  the 
horse  is  accomplished  by  pain;  so,  when  you   inflict  pain,  ac- 


—  26  — 

companied  by  a  word  the  horse  is  made  to  understand  that  the 
words  mean  pain  ;  and  rather  than  suffer  pain,  he  cheerfully 
obeys  the  word. 

Persons  have  practiced  the  foregoing  idea  and  succeeded  in  ac- 
complishing their  purpose  and  have,  no  doubt,  been  highly 
gratified  that  their  horse  was  so  intelligent,  yielding  obedience 
to  their  efforts  in  a  very  short  time ;  now  had  the  owner  known 
that  a  foundation  for  a  complete  education  was  properly  laid 
how  easily  could  he  have  built  a  superstructure  thereon  that 
would  have  been  permanent  and  beneficial  during  the  life  of  the 
animal.  Men  are  often  conceited  and  think  that  because  they 
have  experience^!  no  difficulty  in  the  past  in  breaking  and 
handling  their  horses,  therefore  all  Avill  be  sunshine  in  the  future. 
A  careful  perusal  of  this  Avork  will  supplant  their  conceit  as  the}'' 
gain  the  knowledge  of  a  practical  system  of  properly  educating 
the  horse. 

How  to  Get  a  Horse  Up  that  Throws  Himself. 

Animals  are  often  sulky,  and  quickly  acquire  the  habit  of  ly- 
ing down.  Balky  horses,  when  urged  to  go,  will  lie  down  and 
refuse  to  get  up,  and  an  ox  will  sometimes  lie  down  in  the  fur- 
row when  before  the  plough.  When  the  habit  is  thoroughly  set- 
tled, it  becomes  very  annoying  to  the  owner  or  driver,  who  often 
resorts  to  severe  means,  but  fails  to  accomplish  the  end  desired  ; 
therefore,  to  prevent  violence  and  ill-treatment,  I  give  the  easy 
and  simple  remedy  subjoined,  v/hich,  when  adopted,  will  be 
found  to  be  practical  and  never-failing. 

Raise  the  animal's  head  up,  as  illustrated  in  the  foregoing 
plate,  and  pour  into  his  nostril  a  small  quanity  of  water,  not  to 
exceed  a  pint,  from  a  pitcher  or  cup,  and  you  will  be  amused  by 
the  pleasing  result :  the  ammal  will  rise  to  his  feet  as  quickly 
as  it  is  possible  for  him  to  do  so  ;  he  has  the  same  sensation  as 
if  he  were  drowning,  and  will   extricate  himself  with  all  speed. 

Simple  as  is  this  expedient,  it  is  yet  unfailing  in  its  efficac}'^ ; 
and  that  which  most  commends  it  to  the  acceptance  of  kind- 
hearted  men  is  the  absence  of  all  cruelty  in  its  application.  Xo 
pain   is  caused,   but  the  unusual   sensation,   together  with  the 


-27- 

necessity  for  air  on  the  part  of  the  horse,  banishes  his  former 
fe-^ling  of  sulkiuess  or  anger  and  he  yields  to  the  almost  irresist- 
ible impulse  to  spring  to  his  feet  and  free  his  nostrils  of  the 
water. 

If  any  one  who  has  never  applied  this  remedy  should  doubt 
its  power,  he  onl}^  needs  to  try  the  experiment  in  a  mild  way  on 
himself,  when  lis  will  realize  its  power  npon  the  horse. 

I  believe  it  would  be  impossible  to  devise  another  method  so 
free  from  pain,  so  harmless  to  the  horse,  and  yet  so  thoroughly 
efficacious  as  is  the  one  here  given. 

To  Educate  a  Colt  to  Drive  before  being  Harnessed. 

Place  on  him  tlie  Bonaparte  bridle,  as  shown  in  engraving, 
with  your  cord  in  the  left  liand  and  whip  in  the  right ;  the  cord 
referred  to  should  be  about  eighteen  feet  long ;  now  drive  him 
around  a  circle  to  the  right  about  fifteen  minntes ;  then  drive 
him  to  the  left. about  the  same  time.  Yon  have  now  educated 
your  colt  to  drive,  and  may  with  safety  put  on  your  harness, 
observing  to  put  the  reins  through  the  shaft  tugs  at  his  side ; 
then  commence  driving  him  carefully  for  some  fiftCvin  minutes 
on  a  walk,  turning  him  to  the  right  and  left  as  before  directed. 
Do  not  use  the  whip  more  than  sufficient  to  give  him  a  knowl- 
edge of  its  use.  N'ever  drive  a  colt  without  blinders.  It  is  bet- 
ter to  first  hitch  him  to  a  sulky  or  a  cart,  and  do  not  put  on 
breechings,  but  allow  the  cross-bar  frequently  to  come  against 
his  heels,  so  that  he  may  never  be  afraid,  or  learn  to  kick.  Never 
forget,  w^hen  your  colt  is  obedient,  to  stop  him,  and  walk  up  to 
and  caress  him. 

I  am  unwilling  to  pass  on  to  another  article  without  more 
fully  impressing  on  the  minds  of  those  who  raise  or  break 
colts  the  necessit}'  of  kind  and  careful  usage  in  educating  their 
animals.  Never  approach  your  colt  quickl}^  Never  pull  the 
halter  or  bridle  off"  quickh\  Always  handle  the  colt's  ears  with 
great  care.  Never  punish  him  on  the  body  with  anything  but  a 
whip,  and  with  it  as  seldom  as  possible,  as  many  colts  become 
sulky  and  show  signs  of  balking  when  severely  whipped.  It  is 
better  that  you  should  give  your  colt  two  or  three  lessons  each 


-28- 
day,  as  heretofore  directed,  at  intervals  of  say  two  hours  apart 
by  this  means  you  do  not  overtax  his  brain  nor  cause  him  to  get 
weary.     In  this,  as  in  many  other  cases,  the  wisest  course  is  to 
•'  make  haste  slowly." 

How  to  Educate  a  Colt  to  Move  his  Body  when  he 

Moves  his  Head. 

Place  on  the  bridle,  then  the  harness ;  carry  the  reins 
through  the  shaft  tug ;  take  j^our  position  behind  the  horse  (see 
engravings)  ;  now  commence  to  drive,  turning  him  around  fre- 
quenth^,  first  to  tlie  right,  tlien  to  the  left,  and  he  w^ill  quickly 
understand  to  move  his  bod3"  when  he  moves  his  head.  By  this 
means  you  are  educating  to  the  shafts,  and  educating  not  to  be 
afraid  of  his  heels,  thus  thoroughly  breaking  your  horse  at  both 
sides  and  both  ends. 


Educating  a  Colt  to  Move  his  Hody  when  he  Moves  his  Head. 


—  29  — 

After  3'our  colt  hari  been  driven  two  or  tliree  times,  as  above 
described,  educate  him  to  obey  the  word  ''  Avlioa:"  let  him  walk 
along  smartly,  then  speak  plainly,  with  audible  voice,  and  say 
"whoa;"  at  the  same  time  pull  on  the  reins  with  some  force; 
when  he  stops,  caress  him ;  repeat  this  a  few  times,  and,  in  the 
short  si^ace  of  fifteen  minutes,  you  will  have  taught  him  the  use 
of  the  word.  jS'ow  your  horse  is  educated  to  drive  and  stop  at 
the  word  of  command. 

The  next  thing  in  order  is  to  teach  him  to  back.  To  accom- 
plish this,  grasp  your  reins  firmly,  and  with  a  determined  effort ; 
speak  firmly,  making  use  of  the  word  '"  ])ack,"  at  the  same  time 
pulling  with  all  j^our  might ;  if  he  obeys  the  first  time,  step  up 
and  caress  him ;  if  not,  increase  the  power  by  inviting  one  or 
more  of  your  friends  to  assist  on  the  reins,  being  fully  deter- 
mined to  accomplish  your  purpose.  As  soon  as  he  obeys,  don't 
fail  to  caress  him,  and  by  this  process  you  will  educate  your 
horse  to  the  word,  wliich  he  will  never  forget. 

Your  colt  being  educated,  you  may  now  hitch  him  up  to  a 
vehicle,  observing  to  drive  him  very  slow,  only  a  walk,  and  after 
thus  driving  him  a  few  times,  you  can  with  certainty  say  that 
you  have  a  thoroughly  educated  horse,  whose  value  will  be 
greatly  increased,  c^  mpared  with  the  old  or  any  other  system  of 
breaking  the  colt.  Ahvays  observing  to  drive  your  co't  with 
blhulers,  only  using  the  whip  enough  to  let  him  know  the  use  of 
it.  Be  kind  to  your  animal,  never  using  harsh  means,  and  he 
will  reward  your  kindness  by  implicit  obedience. 

Instructions  to  Ride  the  Colt. 

Take  a  small  cord,  ten  to  twelve  feet  long,  divide  it  in  the  cen- 
tre ;  then  place  the  centre  back  of  the  ears,  cross  it  in  the  mouth, 
then  bring  both  ends  along  the  neck  of  the  withers,  and  tie  a 
knot,  thus  forming  a  powerful  bridle,  sufficient  to  ride  the  most 
vicious  animal. 

Sacred  historj^  contains  the  declaration  that  there  is  "the 
bridle  for  the  horse,  the  whip  for  the  ass,  and  the  rod  for  tlio 
fool's  back,"  and,  while  writing  my  book,  I  have  often  thoup;.; 
of  the   first  j)ortion  of  that  quotation.      The  power  of  the  biidl  ■ 


-30— 

in  controlling  the  horse  is  really  wonderful,  and  the  new  forms 
('f  powerful  bridles  given  in  this  work  enable  the  most  timid 
I'ider  to  secure  the  mastery  of  the  most  powerful  animal.  The 
one  described  above  is  excellent,  and  can  never  fail  to  give  satis- 
faction when  it  is  used  as  directed. 

There  is  no  exercise  so  invigorating  and  scarcely  any  so  de- 
lightful as  the  manly  one  of  riding  the  horse  yet  three-quarters 
of  the  pleasure  of  equestrianism  depends  on  the  early  training 
of  the  horse  for  this  delightful  exercise.  The  rider  who  feels 
that  he  has  beneath  him  an  animal  obedient  to  his  slightest  wish 
and  which  responds  to  a  touch  of  the  heel  or  the  lightest  pressure 
of  the  bit,  moving  to  the  lifting  or  the  falling  of  the  bridle,  such 
a  rider  feels  almost  as  though  the  horse  on  which  he  sits  forms 
a  portion  of  himself,  and  courses  onward  with  a  delightful  sense 
of  power  and  freedom.  Xearly  all  of  this  excellence  in  a  riding- 
horse  depends  on  the  way  in  which  he  has  been  educated  while 
young.  Faults  then  acquired  may  be  corrected,  it  is  true,  in  later 
years,  yi^t  is  far  more  desirable  that  they  should  never  have  been 
formed,  but  in  place  thereof,  the  qualities  secured  which  form 
the  excellence  of  a  horse. 

I  throw  out  thes  3  suggestions  at  this  point,  for  I  am  now  deal- 
ing wiih  the  early  education  of  the  colt;  later  in  the  book  I 
shall  have  to  speak  more  of  faults  to  be  corrected,  and  it  is  my 
wish  to  impress  on  my  reader  the  great  importance  of  the  kind 
of  education  which  the  colt  receives  at  his  hands. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  that  Kicks  or  Paws  in  the 

Stall. 

First  make  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  as  before  directed ;  carrj^ 
the  cord  through  a  surcingle,  attached  around  the  bod}^,  back  to 
a  ring  in  front  of  the  hind-leg,  to  which  are  attached  two  straps, 
one  above  and  one  below  the  gambol  joint  of  the  leg  he  has  the 
habit  of  kicking  with  ;  thus,  when  he  kicks,  he  is  punished  in 
the  act,  and  soon  gives  up  the  habit.  Paiving — -Continue  the 
cord  forward  to  a  ring  attached  to  two  small  straps  above  and 
below  the  knee  joint,  as  seen  on  engraving,  observing,  as  above 


-31- 

directed,  to  attach  the  appliance  to  the  leg  he  paws  with,  re- 
versing- the  straps  wlien  recxuired,  which  will  give  a  horse   the 


To  Prevent  a  Horse  from  Kicking  or  Pawing  in  the  Stall. 

knowledge  that  when  he  paws  he  punishes  himself,  and  the 
reader  will  see,  by  this  treatment,  the  habit  speedily  broken  up. 

The  habit  of  kicking  in  the  stall  is  one  that  is  not  onl}^  dip- 
agreeable  to  the  owner  of  the  horse  addicted  to  it,  but  is  often 
destructive  and  costly,  as  a  horse  viciously  inclined  to  that 
liabit  will  sometimes  even  splinter  the  boards  of  the  stall,  and 
with  so  simple  and  effective  a  method  of  correcting  the  bad 
habit  it  should  never  be  tolerated  for  a  single  day,  and  the  pos- 
sessor of  this  book  would  be  inexcusable  should  he  suffer  it  to 
continue  in  any  animal  owned  bj^  him. 

The  habit  of  pawing  in  the  stall,  though  not  so  vicious  in  its 
nature  as  that  of  kicking,  is  yet  sufficiently  troublesome  and  un- 
pleasant to   deserve   a  speedy   correction,  and  the  owner  of  a 


—32  — 

horse  addicted  to  even  the  lastnamed  fault  will  be  more   than 
compensated  for  the  slight  trouble  caused  in  its  removal. 

It  may  seam  needless  to  repeat  what  has  before  been  said,  in 
substance,  tliat  the  seemingly  small  faults  of  a  horse  are  the 
ones  which  most  frequently  lessen  and  impair  his  usefulness,  and 
tliat  the  removal  of  au}^  one,  however  trifling,  adds  a  money 
Talue  to  the  horse  more  than  sufficient  to  compensate  for  the 
time  and  trouble  expended. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  get  Cast  in  the  Stall. 

Drive  a  staple  in  the  ceiling  over  the  manger  at  the  side  of 
the  stall,  then  another  in  the  ceiling  in  the  center  of  the  stall 


^ 


To  Educate  a  Horse  Not  to  Get  Cast  in  the  StaU. 


over  the  horse's  head ;  pass  a  small  cord  through  the  staple  at 
the  side  of  the  stall ;  tie  a  horseshoe,  or  the  weight  of  a  horse- 


—  33  — 

shoe,  so  that  the  cord  will  not  draw  through  the  staple  ;  then 
put  the  cord  through  the  staple  in  the  centre  of  the  stall,  bring  it 
down  within  two  and  a  half  feet  of  the  floor,  and  cut  it  off,  at- 
taL'iiing  a  snap  to  the  end  ;  place  a  ring  iu  the  halter  at  the  top 
of  the  head,  in  the  center,  as  seen  in  ergraving.  ISTow,  when 
his  hrad  raises  up.  the  weight  comes  dow^n ;  when  his  mouth  is 
on  the  floor  he  can  lie  down  with  ease,  but  he  cannot  get  the 
top  of  his  head  to  the  floor  ;  and,  if  he  cannot  get  the  top  of 
his  head  to  the  floor,  he  cannot  roll ;  and,  if  he  cannot  roll,  he 
cannot  cast.  This  remedy  is  simple  as  it  is  certain  and  is  always 
perfectly  safe. 

The  habit  of  rolling  in  the  stable  is  one  often  attended  with 
fatal  results,  in  addition  to  the  anxiety  experienced  by  the  owner 
of  the  horse.  Various  means  are  resorted  to  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  animal  getting  cast,  and  most  of  them  are  wide  to  the 
mark  :  and,  in  order  to  acquaint  the  reader  with  the  variet}''  of 
ways  practiced,  so  that  he  may  contrast  the  difference  between 
others  and  mine,  I  have  thought  proper  to  write  more  explicitly 
on  the  subject. 

A  favorite  idea  with  many  is  to  tie  the  halter  so  short  that 
the  animal  cannot  get  his  mouth  near  the  floor;  this  renders  the 
horse  uncomfortable,  as  h3  cannot  lie  down  when  he  desires. 
Another  is,  hitching  thv)  halter-stale  at  the  ceiling  directly  over 
the  head  of  the  animal,  and  allowing  cord  enough  that  he  may 
get  his  mouth  on  the  floor ;  this,  too,  is  attended  with  bad  re- 
sults, for  when  he  raises  his  head  up  their  is  sufficient  slack  in 
the  rope  so  as  to  permit  his  getting  his  foot  over  the  rope  and 
becomes  so  entangled  as  to  render  his  position  dangerous. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  that  is  bad  to  Catch. 

Horses  acquire  this  habit  mainly  from  improj)erly  turning 
them  out ;  and,  to  illustrate,  I  will  give  the  reader  an  example- 
First,  the  man  or  boy  takes  his  horse  to  the  bars  or  fence  of  the 
field,  and  lets  only  a  portion  of  either  down ;  he  now  takes  off" 
the  bridle  or  halter,  and,  in  order  to  make  the  horse  jump  over 
hits  him  on  the  rump  and  shouts  at  him  ;  thus  the  animal  is 
made  to  fear  the  approach  of  man  when  loose;  so   that,   with 


-34- 

this  kind  of  training,  it  soon  becomes  difficult  to  catch,  and  re 
quires  education  in  order  to  counteract  this  bad  habit. 

Directions  :  Put  on  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  and  tie  a  knot  at  the 
mouth,  so  as  to  prevent  it  from  slipping  down  to  his  teeth,  when 
he  might  sever  the  cork  ;  then  carry  it  up  to  his  mane  over  the 
shoulder;  tie  the  mane  together  with  a  string;  then  pass  the 
cord  through  the  loop  thus  made  with  the  mane,  and  carry  the 
cord  through  a  loop  made  in  the  tail  by  same  means,  and  let 
your  cord  lay  out  behind  from  ten  to  fift}^  feet,  as  required. 
Xow,  when  you  want  your  horse,  go  carefully  up  behind  him 
and  take  a  firm  hold  of  the  cord,  and  say  ^'  Come  here,"  at  the 
same  time  pulling  with  all  your  might.  By  giving  him  three 
or  four  lessons  of  this  kind,  you  may  safely  take  off  the  cord 
and  go  into  tlie  field,  standing  about  the  same  distance  as  when 
you  last  pulled  on  the  cord,  and  repeat  the  words  ''come  here  J 
he  will  quickly  obe}^  your  voice,  and  give  you  no  more  trouble 
in  catching  him 

When  it  is  remembered  how  much  time  is  often  lost  in  catch- 
ing a  horse  in  the  field,  it  will  be  seen  that,  in  money  value,  this 
siuiple  point  of  horse  education  will  more  than  repay  the  cost  of 
this  book  to  the  owner  of  a  horse  that  has  heretofore  been  bad  to 
catch ;  and  the  saving  of  temper  as  well  as  time  will  make  the 
improvement  in  his  habits  doubly  valuable.  Both  the  man  and 
the  horse  are  made  better  by  it. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  Rear  under  the  Saddle  or 

before  a  Carriage. 

Attach  a  small  cord  tightly  around  the  swell  of  the  bod}",  tied 
with  a  loop-knot,  and  carry  it  back  into  the  carriage.  By  doin^ 
this  you  prevent  your  horse  from  rearing,  inasmuch  as  he  is  un- 
able to  expand  his  body,  and,  without  doing  so,  it  is  impossible 
for  him  to  rear.  Simple  as  is  this  method,  the  reader,  if  he 
should  have  occasion  to  practice  it,  will  find  the  idea  of  great 
value,  as  it  will  never  fail  to  prove  effectual  in  removing  this,  to 
say  the  least,  unpleasant  and  often  dangerous  habit.  It  is  possible 
that  the  habit  might  b  '  broken  up  in  other  ways,  but  there  are  none 
so  harmless  and  easy  of  application  as  is  the  one  I  have  described. 


—  35- 

My  readers  will,  I  doubt  not,  receive  with  kindly  feelings  not 
only  the  instructions  on  the  ini})ortant  points  of  educating  their 
horses  to  break  olf  bad  habits,  but  will  profit  by  the  ideas 
and  examples  given  of  the  various  means  adopted  by  horse- 
handlers  to  create  these  habits.  In  the  present  Instance,  it  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  known  that  horses  acquire  the  habit  of  rearing 
themselves,  but  are  prompted  so  to  do  by  the  means  used,  viz., 
starting  and  stopping  suddenty;  pulling  sharply  on  the  reins, 
and  then  striking  the  animal  with  the  v>hip,  either  of  which  is 
a  sure  and  certain  means  of  producing  the  result  of  causing 
the  horse  to  rear  up  whenever  you  desire  to  move  off. 

The  inconvenience  and  unpleasantness  of  such  a  habit  are  too 
plain  to  need  more  than  a  mention,  besides  its  often  occasioning 
great  alarm  to  a  timid  driver  ;  and  the  simple  yet  practical 
means  I  have  given  for  breaking  up  the  habit,  will  be  found  suc- 
C3  5sful  whenever  it  is  tried,  as  it  ,always  should  be  where  the 
habit  exists. 

To  Educate  and  prevent  a  Horse  from  Cribbing. 

Build  a  manger  on  the  floor  or  from  the  floor  up.  In  many 
cases  this  will  prevent  a  horse  from  cribbing  by  gettiug  his 
mouth  below  his  chest. 

Another  method,  snre  to  be  effective,  is  to  place  a  piece  of  sheep- 
skin of  long  wool,  eight  inches  wide  and  about  three  feet  long, 
or  long  enough  to  reach  from  one  side  of  the  stall  to  the  other 
and  on  the  skin  sprinkle  cayenne  pepper  ;  take  soft  soap  and  rub 
it  on  any  part  of  the  stall  where  the  horse  will  be  likely  to  crib. 
If  the  above  instructions  are  strictly  adhered  to,  and  the  horse  is 
fed  regularly,  three  times  a  ddj,  there  will  be  little  danger  of  his 
ever  becoming  a  cribber.  The  slight  trouble  which  this  remedy 
involves  will  be  repaid  a  hundred-fold  by  the  satisfaction  felt  iii 
the  prevention  or  cure  of  a  most  disagreeable  habit,  and  one 
which,  like  every  other  fault,  le-sens  the  value  of  a  horse.  In 
using  the  cayenne  pei)per,  a  small  quantity  will  l)e  sufficient. 

There  are  more  bad  results  accruing  from  cribbing  than  many 
are  aware  of.  From  cribbing  the  horse  maj^  become  a  crib- 
sucker,  which  often  results  in  colic,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  termed, 


-36  — 

bellj^-ache.  When  this  occurs  of  course  it  becomes  a  dangerous 
habit,  and  no  one  shoukl  think  it  too  much  trouble  to  adopt  the 
instructions  given  under  this  head.  Do  not  think  you  can  erad- 
icate this  habit  by  nailing  tin  or  or  iron  over  the  manger ;  you 
cannot  remove  it  thus ;  3^our  horse  ma}"  desist  for  the  time  be- 
ing, but  when  put  into  a  stall  that  is  not  thus  arranged,  he  will 
relapse  into  his  old  habit ;  but  by  adopting  this  remed}^  I  have 
provided  he  will  be  thoroughly  taught  not  to  attempt  to  bite  or 
or  gnaw  the  manger. 

There  is  a  wide  difference  between  preventing  a  horse  from 
doing  what  he  still  wishes  to  do,  and  taking  Irom  him  the  dis- 
l^osition  to  do  ^\Tong ;  the  latter  alone  can  proper]}-  be  called 
education,  and  is  the  only  way  in  which  a  bad  habit  can  be  per- 
manently removed.  On  this  principle  I  base  my  whole  sj^stem ; 
it  is  education,  by  appealing  to  the  intelligence  of  the  horse. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  l^ot  to  Kick  When  the  Line  Gets 

Under  His  Tail. 

Horses  become  kickers  from  A^arious  causes,  and  one  most  ef- 
fectual in  producing  the  habit,  is  that  when  a  horse  gets  the  rein 
under  his  tail,  his  driver,  getting  provoked,  pulls  strongly  on  the 
rein  in  order  to  liberate  it,  and  by  this  means  burns  the  skin  be- 
neath the  tail,  when  the  horse  becomes  excited  and  commences 
to  kick.  The  driver  then  usually  begins  to  whip,  and  often-times 
the  horse  continues  to  kick,  until  he  breaks  ever^^hing  within 
reach  of  his  heels,  and  runs  away.  'Now  the  owner  has  a  con- 
firmed kicker,  and  frequentl}"  knows  not  what  to  do  to  correct  the 
fault  he  has  himself  established.  The  instructions  below,  if  prop- 
erly applied,  will  effect  a  cure. 

When  your  horse  is  down,  as  seen  in  the  engraving,  place  a 
strap  under  his  tail  and  commence  moving  it  up  and  down; 
should  he  kick,  or  show  signs  of  resistance,  at  once  punish  him . 
if  not,  caress  him,  and  in  a  short  time  his  tail  will  become  limber 
and  he  will  be  taught  to  not  be  afraid,  though,  in  driving,  the 
rein  should  get  under  his  tail.  Also,  after  you  allow  him  to  rise 
to  his  feet,  use  the  same  means  as  just  dii'ected  when  he  was 
lying  down. 


—  37  — 

111  my  book  I  liav^o  cuidoavored  to  grapple  with  almost  every 
bad  liabit  tluit  a  horse  is  addicted  to,  and  would  here  advise  all 
persons  who  handle  them  to  be  extremely  careful  that  if  their 
animals  acquire  unpleasant  habits,  they  are  not  mostly  to  be 
blamed  themselves.  Horses  differ  materially  in  their  ability  to 
learn,  and  many  are  less  susceptible  of  impressions  than  others, 
therefore,  it  behooves  the  educator  to  first  make  himself  acquain- 
ted with  the  disposition  of  his  horse,  and  treat  him  accordingly^, 


To  Educate  a  Horse  Not  to  Kick  wheu  the  Lines  get  Under  his  Tail, 

as  the  same  line  of  management  will  not  serve  for  all,  but  an 
observance  of  one  important  direction,  that  of  aluays  using  the 
utmost  kindness,  will,  in  most  cases,  prevent  and  remove  all 
habits  but  those  of  long  standing. 


—38  — 

Bits  Used  in   Educating    Horses   Addicted   to    Bad 

Habits. 

"No.  1.       To    PREVEIS'T    A   HORSE    GETTING    HIS    TONGUE  OVER  THE 

Bit. — Take  a  piece  of  leather,  saj^  three  inches  long,  an  inch  and 
a  half  wide,  and  drill  two  holes  in  a  straight  bit ;  now  rivet  this 
leather  on  the  top  of  the  bit,  after  which  sprinkle  on  the  upper 
side  some  pulverized  rosin,  and  take  a  hot  iron  and  pass  over  it 
so  as  to  form  a  coating.  Allow  your  horse  to  wear  this  bit  say 
six  or  eight  days  when  driving,  and  he  will  by  that  time  be  suf- 
ficiently taught  to  abandon  the  habit. 

Ko.  2.  LoLLiXG  THE  ToNGUE. — Take  an  ordinary  straight  bit 
of  five-eights  of  an  inch  in  diameter  and  drill  two  holes,  each  one 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  from  the  center :  then  get  a  piece  of 
very  small  chain,  attach  iron  bullets,  a.bout  the  size  of  ordinary 
leaden  bullets  used  in  guns,  suspend  them  not  more  than  one  and 
a  half  inches  from  the  bit.  ISTow  use  the  bit.  everv  time  vou  drive 
your  horse,  for  ten  days. 

Ko.  3.  To  Cure  a  Horse  of  Slxkixg  AVixd. — A  horse  that  has 
acquired  the  habit  of  sucking  wind  is  trul}^  to  be  detested,  as  it  is 
oftentimes  attended  with  fatal  results,  and  when  once  thoroughly 
settled,  great  difFiculty  has  been  experienced  in  removing  the 
habit.  The  method  I  have  introduced  of  treating  this  habit  has 
proved  successful  in  most  cases. 

Take  a  piece  of  small  gas-pipe,  sa}^  from  five  eighths  to  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  the  ordinary'  length  of  a  bit : 
heat  it  and  circle  it  a  little,  then  drill  on  the  upper  side  equal 
distances  apart  from  each  end;  also  drill  three  holes  on  the 
upper  side,  making  each  hole  betw^een  an  eighth  and  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  attach  a  ring  near  each  end  and 
allow  your  horse  to  wear  this  when  driving,  say  for  at  least 
from   ten   to   twenty  days  or  until  the  habit  is  removed. 

No.  4.  To  Cure  a  Side-Reixer,  one  that  Pulls  heavily  on 
ONE  Kein,  — Take  a  plain,  jointed  bit,  remove  one-half  of  tl  e  part 
used  in  the  mouth  and  supply  a  small  chain  from  the  side  ring  to 
to  the  center  joint,  now  on  the  side  that  the  animal  pulls  place 


—  39  — 

tl).o  chain  ;  he  is  not  only  attracted  by  the  strange  sensation  in 
the  mouth,  but  when  pulled  on  the  chain  side  receives  such 
severe  and  unexpected  punishment  that  he  will  quickly  give  up 
his  habit. 

No.  5.  Dead  Mouth  or  Jaw  Bit. — This  bit  may  be  used  on 
horses  that  pull  very  much  on  the  reins,  and  a  lady  may  with 
safety  drive  a  horse,  as  she  can  control  him  quite  easily. 

The  attachment  to  this  bit  is  made  as  follows  :  Take  two  pieces 
of  leather  about  three  inches  in  diameter,  make  a  hole  in  the 
center  of  each  to  admit  of  the  bit,  cut  the  leather  so  as  to  put 
pieces  on  after,  sew  up  slit,  attach  two  billets  on  under  side  with 
buckle,  then  buckle  on  under  jaw.  This  bit  may  be  used  without 
a  head-stall. 

To  Educate  Horses  Not  to  be  Afraid  of  Objects  When 

Driving. 

It  is  imposi-ible  to  overestimate  the  value  of  the  subjoined 
instructions  respecting  nervous  and  shying  horses,  therefore  on 
this  topic  I  wish  to  be  particularly  clear  and  explicit.  Let  the 
reader  understand  that  horses  take  fright  at  objects  because  they 
fancy  those  objects  will  harm  them,  and  if  you  can  by  any  means 
appeal  to  the  horse's  brain,  and  satisfy  him  that  he  is  not  going 
to  be  hurt,  you  have  accomplished  j^our  object,  and  in  order  to 
do  so,  you  must  have  control  of  your  horse.  I  do  not  mean  b}^ 
this  that  you  are  to  adopt  the  too  frequent  course  pursued  by 
many,  viz.,  subduing  Avitli  the  whip,  or  other  harsh  means, 
which  will,  without  almost  an  exception,  increase  the  fear  instead 
of  removing  the  habit;  again,  when  a  horse  shies,  the  driver 
commences  to  jerk  on  the  rein  nearest  to  the  object,  and  at  once 
applies  the  whip,  fully  determined  to  master  his  horse;  both  man 
and  horse  get  excited  and  tho  horse  comes  off  victorious,  be- 
cause he  cannot  control  him  by  the  means  used,  and  the  result 
is  that  the  next  time  the  animal  is  frightened  it  bears  a  two-fold 
cliaraeter,  the  fear  of  the  object,  and  the  fear  of  the  whip-punish- 
ment. 

In  order  to  properly  educate  your  liorses  in  this  department, 
I  would  specially  direct  the  reader  to  observe  and  practice  the 


-40- 

following  directions :  Select,  first,  the  most  prominent  objects  at 
which  he  becomes  frightened,  then  make  the  Bonaparte  bridle  of 
small  cord,  and  place  it  on  yonr  horse  under  the  bridle,  carrying 
the  end  of  the  cord  into  the  carriage  and  when  approaching  an 
object  at  which  he  takes  fright,  get  out  of  your  carriage,  stand 
nearly  in  front  of  him,  give  a  quick  downward  pull,  and  say, 
''  Come  here!"  At  first  do  not  punish  him  too  severely;  but  if 
he  will  not  obey,  increase  the  punishment,  and  so  soon  as  he 
complies,  caress  him.  Bring  him  quite  near  the  object,  and,  if 
possible,  let  him  smell  of  it,  as  by  adopting  this  method  he  will 
quickly  understand  that  the  object  will  not  hurt  him.  Xow  turn 
him  around,  and  drive  him  past  the  object  two  or  three  times, 
and  you  have  accomplished  your  end. 

First  Lesson  to  Educate  a  Horse  not  to  fear  an 

Umbrella. 

Place  on  the  animal  the  throwing  rig  and  proceed  to  lay  him 
down,  when,  should  he  jump  around  and  show  resistance,  do 
not  get  anxious  to  throw  him  quickly,  but  let  him  caper  about, 
he  will  soon  give  up.  After  he  is  down  present  the  umbrella  to 
him  folded  up,  allov/  him  to  smell  of  it,  then  rub  it  gently  across 
his  nose  and  head,  now  open  it  partly,  again  let  him  smell  of  it, 
shut  it  and  open  it  several  times  until  he  becomes  perfectly  re- 
conciled to  the  appearance,  open  or  shut ;  work  slowly  and 
carefully  so  as  not  to  excite  him  more  than  possible  to  avoid. 

On  no  account  should  the  operator,  Avhen  practicing  any  dea 
in  my  system,  forget  that  success  greatly  depends  upon  caressing 
when  the  animal  obeys. 

Horse  Bad  to  Bridle. 

Horses  become  unwilling  to  be  bridled  from  various  causes, 
sometimes  from  sores  on  the  head  or  ears,  sometimes  from  hur- 
riedly and  improperly  removing  the  bridle,  and  sometimes  from 
sheer  ugliness  of  disposition,  prompted  b}^  a  desire  to  be  master. 
The  treatment  in  these  cases  should  be  varied.  In  the  latter 
case  named   it  will  be  necessary  to  lay  the   animal   down,  and 


-41- 

while  thus  under  control,  handle  his  head  and  ears,  after  which 
put  your  bridle  on  and  off  several  times,  exercising  patience  and 
being  careful  to  avoid  anything  like  roughness.  Should  he  reMst, 
punish  him  in  the  mouth,  using  your  best  judgment  to  avoid 
severity,  and  so  soon  as  he  submits  caress.  As  to  the  former, 
where  a  dislike  to  be  bridled  arises  from  abuses,  kindness  must 
govern  the  conduct  of  the  educator.  By  using  my  Bonaparte 
bridle  you  will  be  able  to  control  and  counteract  all  predisposi- 
tion to  resist  your  efforts  in  a  very  short  time.  Should  there  be 
sores  about  the  animal's  head,  j^ou  had  better  restore  to  sound- 
ness before  you  attempt  to  educate  to  comply  with  your 
wishes. 

To  Educate  a  Single-footed  Horse  to  Trot  Square. 

Upon  the  hind  leg  of  the  horse  that  hitches  or  single-foots, 
place  two  hame-straps,  one  above  and  one  below  the  gambol- 
joint,  attaching  a  ring  on  front,  by  which  means  the  straps  are 
confined  ;  then  place  a  small  strap  on  the  opposite  front  leg  just 
below  the  knee-joint,  now  buckle  on  a  strap  from  fore-leg  to 
hind-leg,  passing  it  up  under  the  surcingle.  'Now  proceed  to 
drive  your  horse,  and  you  will  at  once  discover  that  he  cannot 
single-foot,  but  must  trot.  By  paying  particular  attention  to 
the  instructions  given,  the  pleasing  result  will  follow  and  3'our 
horse  will  be  taught  to  abandon  the  habit.  The  reader  must  l)e 
careful  not  to  trot  his  horse  fast  up  hill  nor  allow  him  to  draw 
too  much  weight  while  trotting. 

To  Educate  a  Pacing  Horse  to  Trot. 

Take  four  hame-straps,  attach  two  on  each  hind-leg,  one  above 
and  one  below  the  gambol-joint,  confining  the  straps  on  the  front 
of  the  leg  by  means  of  a  small  ring.  TJien  place  two  hame-straps 
on  the  front  legs  just  below  the  knee  joint ;  buckle  a  strap  from 
each  fore-leg,  carrying  them  up  under  the  surcingle,  and  attach 
them  to  the  rings  in  front  of  hind-legs,  crossing  strap  from  off 
fore-leg  to  nigh  hind-leg,  and  from  nigh  fore-leg  to  off  hind-leg ; 
now  commence  to  drive  your  horse,  walking  him  very  slow,  as 


—42- 

the  ney  action  of  the  legs  may  cause  liim  to  stumble ;  but  after 
a  ftiw  mirutes  j'ou  may  increase  his  speed,  and  you  will  be  de- 
lighted to  see  your  horse  trotting  at  a  rate  that  will  astonish 
you. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Trot. 

The  appliance  required  to  form  tlie  trotting  rig  is  arranged  as 
follows : 

Take  four  hame-straps,  attach  two  on  each  hind-leg,  one  above 
and  one  below  the  gambol-joint,  confining  the  straps  on  the  front 
part  of  the  leg,  by  means  of  a  small  ring.  Then  take  a  standing 
martingale  and  attach  a  small  pulley  on  the  lower  end  of  the 
martingale ;  then  take  a  small,  strong  cord,  tying  one  end  in 
the  ring  on  one  hind-leg,  passing  the  other  end  through  the  pul- 
ley, bringing  it  back  to  the  other  hind-leg,  and  tie  it  in  the  ring; 
adjust  the  rope  in  accordance  with  the  stride  of  your  horse,  ob- 
serving to  drive  him  very  slow  for  a  time  until  he  shall  become 
accustomed  to  the  rig. 

This  idea  with  alterations  as  hereinafter  set  forth  may  be 
successfully  applied  to  horses  while  being  used  by  the  husband- 
man in  ploughing,  that  are  addicted  to  the  habit  of  kicking.  I 
have  already  given  the  reader  a  number  of  ideas  on  this  point 
that,  if  used  in  accordance  with  instructions,  will  not  fail  to  give 
satisfaction. 

Put  on  the  liorse  the  trotting-rig,  as  seen  in  engraving,  with 
the  exception  of  the  standing  martingale  attached  from  the  pul- 
ley to  the  bit-ring  of  the  bridle ;  then  through  the  eye  of  the 
pulley  insert  a  small  cord,  say  twelve  feet  long,  carry  both  ends 
up  between  the  fore-legs,  pass  one  end  through  the  bit-ring  on 
the  off-side  up  over  the  head,  and  down  on  the  nigh-side  of  the 
head  to  the  bit-ring,  and  then  tie  it.  Now  take  the  other  end  of 
the  cord  and  carry  it  up  on  the  nigh-side  through  the  bit-ring 
and  pass  it  over  the  head  down  to  the  bit-ring  on  the  off-side  and 
there  tie  it.  By  thus  manipulating  your  cord  you  will  perceive 
that  you  have  a  system  of  severely  punishing  the  horse  when  he 
shall  kick. 


-43- 

To   Educate  a   Horse   Not   to   Kick   while   in 

Shafts. 

Horses  are  quite  often  educated  to  kick  in  harness  as  well  as 
out  and  almost  numberless  accidents  have  been  caused  by  this 
vicious  and  bad  habit.  Men  are  found  reckless  enough  to  tant- 
alize  their  horse  with  a  whip  and  sometimes  punch  him  with  a 
stick,  regardless  of  consequences.  The  result,  in  most  cases,  is 
that  the  animal  becomes  a  kicker,  and  the  habit  when  once 
formed  is  not  easily  eradicated  by  resorting  to  the  old  stereotj^ped 
method  of  placing  a  strap  over  the  horse's  rump  and  buckling  to 
the  shafts  on  each  side.  This  treatment  may  in  time  effect  the 
purpose,  but  it  will  require  months  to  do  so.  Laying  all  others 
aside,  I  with  confidence  say  to  the  reader,  if  he  will  but  practice 
the  subjoined  idea  he  will  find  it  not  only  practical  but  effectual, 
because  the  punishment  is  so  severe  that  a  few  lessons  will  con- 
vince the  horse  that  it  will  greatly  be  to  his  advantage  to  abandon 
the  habit. 

Take  a  cord  twenty  feet  long,  divide  it  in  the  center,  place  it 
back  of  the  ears,  bring  it  down  and  cross  it  in  the  mouth,  then 
bring  it  up  between  the  eyes,  placing  a  ring  or  loop  there ;  now 
bring  it  back  through  a  ring  attached  to  the  head-stall  between 
the  ears,  then  bring  both  ends  of  your  cord  under  the  saddle  of 
the  harness  and  along  the  back,  to  a  ring  slipped  over  the  crupper 
against  the  hip-strap ;  bring  the  cords  through  the  ring  down  to 
the  shaft  on  each  side  of  the  horse,  observing  to  leave  just  slack 
enough  so  that  your  horse  may  not  be  too  much  confined.  The 
cord  used  may  be  quite  small,  so  that  it  is  strong. 

Now  when  your  horse  makes  an  attempt  to  kick  he  will  find  a 
severe  punishment  immediately  meted  out  to  him,  and  thus 
finding  his  attempt  fruitless  as  well  as  painful,  he  will  be  made 
to  understand  that  while  obedince  is  rewarded,  punishment 
quickly  follows  each  act  of  disobedience.  This  simple  yet  effect- 
ive expedient  makes  the  horse  punish  himself  for  his  own  mis- 
deeds, and  by  making  the  act  of  kicking  the  cause  of  his  suffering 
disinclines  him  to  attempt  it,  for  neither  horse  nor  man  will 
voluntarily  provoke  certain  pain. 


—  44  — 

To  Educate  a  Lazy  Horse,  and  Infuse  Life  into  Him. 

I  have  already  given  many  ideas  referring  to  balky  horses,  and 
as  the  old,  tried  remark  is  verily  trne,  that  ''in  the  midst  of 
council  there  is  safety,"  so  with  a  multitude  of  ideas  there  is 
certain  success.     I  will  add  one  more  to  the  catalogfue. 

Something  that  especially  attracts  the  attention  of  a  horse 
accustomed  to  balk  often  causes  him  to  foro-et  for  the  moment  his 
offensive  habit  and  start  ofif,  much  to  the  surprise  of  his  driver. 
Jiy  adopting  the  idea  set  forth  below,  and  following  care- 
fully each  detail  given,  the  reader  will  have  no  difticulty 
in  ordinary  cases,  with  this  peculiar  tormentor^  in  accomplishing 
his  purpose. 

By  many  this  may  be  considered  a  kind  of  jockey  trick ;  but 
the  reader  will  find  the  information  valuable  if  he  has  a  lazy  horse 
or  one  that  does  not  drive  up  well  on  the  bit,  as  by  following  the 
directions  given  below  he  will  be  prepared  to  show  as  much  style 
as  any  man  in  his  count}^ 

Directions. — Take  a  small  chain,  about  three  feet  long  and 
attach  to  it  a  strap  or  limber  stick  about  the  same  length,  with 
this  in  hand  walk  into  the  stable  and  commence  plying  on  him  a 
few  smart  blows,  w4th  this  educator,  above  the  gambol-joint, 
repeating  it  once  a  day  for  three  or  four  days ;  when  you  hit  him 
of  course  the  chain  rattles  and  makes,  to  him,  a  peculiar  noise. 
Now,  after  you  harness  him  up,  put  the  chain  in  your  carriage, 
then  take  your  place  behind  him  and  commence  driving,  and 
when  you  want  to  show  style,  just  kick  the  chain  about  a  little 
with  your  boot  and  you  will  be  surprised  at  the  spirit  and  zeal 
manifested  by  your  horse. 

An  Easy  Method  of  Starting   a   Balky   Horse  who 

Stops  on  the  Road. 

Among  the  various  bad  habits  which  horses  acquire  there  are 
none  wiiich  more  severely  try  the  patience  of  man  than  does  the 
habit  of  balking.  Frequently  a  horse  is  quiet,  kind,  and  a  good 
roadster,  but  has  this  habit  of  occasionally  stopping  in  the  road. 
At  such  times  the  almost  universal  practice  is  to  whip  the  horse, 


—45  — 

and  sometimes  most  brutally,  or  the  more  sickening  custom  of 
procuring  a  bundle  of  straw  or  some  shavings  and  setting  them 
on  lire  under  the  body  of  the  horse.  Such  kinds  of  treatment  I 
utterly  discard,  and  the  reader  will  find,  in  another  part  of  my 
book,  that  1  give  several  methods  which  will  prove  effectual  in 
eradicating  this  habit,  only  meting  out  sufficient  punishment  to 
secure  obedience. 


jM^  Tj^n^t'j^'^^ 


To  Start  a  Balky  Horse. 


Below  I  give'  an  excellent  method  of  starting  a  balky  horse, 
and  one  which  will  prove  effectual,  though  it  will  not  educate  the 
horse  to  abandon  the  habit.  When  your  horse  balks  get  out  of 
your  carriage,  walk  up  to  him  and  commence  kicking  him  with 
the  toe  of  your  boot  under  the  fetlock  joint,  first  one  then  the 
other  using  the  word  "shoo !"  loud  and  quick  every  time  you 
kick.  Then  take  your  seat  in  the  carriage  and  use  the  w^ord  as 
before  directed,  when  your  horse  will  start  at  once.  This  process 
diverts  his  attention  and  causes  him  to  move  on. 


Teaching  Horses  Tricks. 


Many  horses  are  susceptible  of  an  education  far  more  exten- 
sive than  is  necessary  for  ordinary  use,  and  for  the  benefit  of 
such  persons  as  may  desire  to  teach  their  horses  something  more 
tlian  the  usual  accomplishments,  whether  for  their  own  amuse- 
ment, or  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  how  far  the  intelligence  of  the 
animal  can  be  developed,  I  have  prepared  a  description  of  a 
variety  of  tricks,  which,  as  performed  by  my  horses,  have  been 
received  Avith  universal  applause,  both  in  the  United  States  and 
in  Canada.  But  that  no  person  ma}^  be  misled  into  supposing 
tliat  this  forms  a  part  of  my  general  system  of  educating  the 
horse,  I  deem  it  proper  to  present  these  directions  separately. 

Tiiough  the  tricks  to  be  hereafter  explained  will  add  nothing 
of  intrinsic  value  to  the  horse,  nor  of  real  benefit  to  his  owner, 
3'ct  the  reader  will  readily  see  in  them  the  demonstration_of  a 
lii.<::]dy  important  fact,  viz.,  that  horses  can  be  'aught  the  meaning 
ot  Vt'ords,  and  to  yiekl  obedience  to  sounds  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  convince  a  candid  mind  that  their  intelligence  is  far  in  advance 
ol"  that  generally  attributed  to  them.  With  these  remarks  I  will 
}-roceed  to  explain  the  modus  operandi,  as  I  call  attention  to  a 
A  ariety  of  tricks  they  may  easily  be  taught  to  perform.  Before 
passing  to  tliis,  let  me  impress  on  the  reader  some  leading  prin- 
ciples in  educating  the  horse.  First,  never  allow  yourself  to  got 
in  a  hurry  ;  impatience  or  excitement  on  your  part  will  go  far  in 
defeating  the  object  of  your  instructions.  Second,  do  not  pro- 
Ions:  vour  lessons  bovond  tvrenty  minutes  at  onetime:  and, 
especially,  never  use  severity  beyond  that  which  may  be  ab- 
solutely necessar}'.  Thus  by  kindness  and  patience  in  repeating 
your  lessons  at  short  intervals,  you  will  surmount  every  dif- 
ficulty and  accomplish  your  purpose  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to 
yourself. 


—  47- 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  take  a  Handkerchief  from  his 

Side. 

Tlie  reader  must  understand  that  it  is  necessary  first  to  educate 
your  animal  to  obey  the  words  ''come  here"  and  ''whoa"  before 
he  can  be  taught  tricks  successfully. 

There  must  be  great  caution  used  in  teaching  the  above  trick. 
First  stand  on  the  nigh-side  and  prick  the  animal  lightly  on  the 
shoulder ;  he  will  reach  round  and  bite  near  where  the  punishment 
is  inflicted.  After  you  have  repeated  this  a  few  times  hold  a  hand- 
kerchief in  hand  with  the  pin  and  he  w^ill  soon  catch  hold  of  it 
with  his  teeth;  as  you  use  the  pin,  say  "Take  it  from  the  nigh- 
side."  Next  prick  him  with  a  pin  on  the  off-shoulder,  hand- 
kerchief accompanying,  and  say  "Take  it  from  the  off-side." 
"When  3'ou  have  given  him  five  or  six  lessons,  you  may  hold  the 
handkerchief  on  his  side  and  touch  him  with  your  finger,  repeat- 
ing the  words  above  directed.  The  instructor  must  be  cautious 
when  using  the  pin  in  educating,  not  to  proA^oke  or  make  the 
animal  cross. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Kiss  a  Boy. 

This  kind  of  education  is  not  particularly  beneficial  to  the 
horse  owner,  but  it  illustrates  clearly  the  idea  forshadowed  in 
many  parts  of  my  work :  first,  that  the  horse  may  be  taught 
almost  anything  that  is  in  his  power  to  do  ;  second,  that  if  you 
go  rightly  to  work  you  may  so  gain  his  confidence  that  he  will 
cheerfully  obey  every  reasonable  command. 

Dlredion. — Take  a  piece  of  api^le,  place  it  in  your  mouth  and 
say  to  your  horse,  "Kiss  me."  He  will  api^roach  you  to  take  it; 
when  he  does  so  caress  him.  After  repeating  this  a  few  times 
when  you  approach  him  extend  your  mouth  towards  his  and 
repeat  the  words  "kiss  me."  If  he  does  not  respond,  place  a  piece 
of  apple  in  your  mouth  as  before,  and  repeat  it  until  he  shall  obey 
without  the  use  of  the  apple. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Bore  for  Oil. 

Place  on  your  horse  the  Comanche  bridle,  and  educate  him  to 
the  words,  "Come  here,"  so  that  he  will  mind  you  readily  on 
hearing  the  words ;  by  this   you   can   better   control   him  w^liile 


-48  — 

educating  to  the  trick  in  question.  Some  difficult}"  may  at  first 
be  experienced,  but  by  patience  and  perseverance  you  will  not  fail. 
Take  an  ordinary  pole-strap  and  place  it  on  your  horse  below 
the  fetlock  joint  on  the  off  fore-foot;  now  take  one  loose  turn 
round  the  nigh  fore-foot,  and  take  the  end  of  the  sti'ap  in  one 
hand,  with  the  other  hand  pull  gently  on  the  bridle,  using  the 
words  as  instructed.  Your  animal  will  attempt  to  obey,  but  will 
ii^a  himself  somewhat  hampered,  yet  he  will  quickly  learn.  If 
he  should  at  first  move  a  foot  to  please  you,  say  ^'Whoa,'^  and 
then  caress.  !Make  your  lesson  short,  and  do  not  try  to  force  him 
too  much,  for  if  you  do,  he  will  becoma  excited  and  resist  your  effort. 

How  to  make  a  Horse  walk  up. 

First  put  a  rope  around  his  neck,  bring  it  down  through  his 
mouth,  back  through  the  loop  on  the  neck,  jerk  him  till  he  raises 
his  fore-feet  the  least  bit,  then  stop  and  caress  him  ;  then  check 
him  up  tight  to  a  surcingle — from  the  bit  to  the  side-ring  is  the 
better  way  ;  then  jerk  on  the  cord,  and  he  will  soon  get  up  erect ; 
repeat,  still  caressing  him  well  for  all  he  does ;  he  will  soon  get 
up  at  the  motion  of  the  whip.  You  should,  when  practicing 
him,  repeat  the  words,  ''get  up,  sir!"  It  is  in  this  manner  I 
taught  Tom  Thumb  to  go  up  and  down  stairs,  and  to  perform  on 
the  stage  in  different  places,  affording  amusement  to  thousands 
of  witnesses. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Sit  Down. 

Horses  differ  very  much  in  their  capacity  for  being  taught, 
therefore,  if  you  desire  a  pleasing  subject,  select  one  that  is 
tractable.  Directions  :  Make  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  and  place  it 
on  your  horse,  so  that  you  may  have  him  under  proper  control, 
then  put  on  him  a  common  hame  collar ;  now  take  two  pole- 
straps  and  place  one  on  each  hind-leg,  below  the  fetlock  joint, 
and  attach  a  cord,  saj^  twelve  feet  long,  to  each  strap,  carry  your 
cord  up  through  the  collar  on  each  side  and  bring  the  ends  behind 
him,  holding  also  the  end  of  the  Bonaparte  bridle  in  your  hand, 
and  commence  to  pull  on  your  cords ;  now  repeat  over  the  words, 
"sit  down  ";  as  he  goes  backwards  draw  up  still  more  on  your 
cords,  until  he  shall  sit  down.     Do  not  allow  him  to  remain  in 


-49- 

this  sitting  posture  more  than  a  minute  the  first  lesson.  Repeat 
this  two  or  three  times  a  day  for  five  or  six  days,  and  you,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  whip  pointed  downwards  to  the  ground,  will 
witness  the  pleasing  effect  of  your  instruction  by  seeing  your 
horse  sit  down  at  the  word  of  command. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Drive  a  Boy  off  the  Pedestal. 

It  will  be  necessary-  to  first  educate  the  horse  to  mount  the 
pedestal,  then  proceed  in  the  following  manner.  Put  on  the 
Bonaparte  bridle,  using  a  cord,  say  twenty  feet  long,  and  send 
your  horse  awa}^  from  you  with  a  whip,  the  length  of  the  cord, 
then  give  him  a  slight  pull,  and  say,  ''Come  here ;  "  then  run  from 
liim  and  mount  the  pedestal  yourself;  when  he  approaches  he 
w^ill  try  to  mount,  and  as  he  does  so  3^ou  jump  off.  After  you 
have  thus  exercised  him  a  few  times  get  a  boy  to  assist  you. 
Let  the  boy  stand  on  the  pedestal,  and  say  to  your  horse,  ''Come 
here  and  mount  up  ; ''  instruct  the  boy  to  leave  so  soon  as  the 
animal  shall  mount. 

You  will  find  this  trick  quite  a  sensational  one,  and  not  diffi- 
cult to  learn  your  horse. 

To  Shake  Hands. 

This  is  easily  accomplished  by  tying  a  short-strap  or  piece  of 
cord  to  the  forward  foot  below  the  fetlock  ;  then  stand  directly  in 
front  of  the  horse,  and  hold  the  end  of  the  strap  in  your  hand, 
and  say,  "Shake  hands,  sir."  After  which  j)ull  immediately  upon 
the  strap,  which  will  bring  his  foot  forward,  and  which  you  are 
to  accei)t  as  shaking  hands;  then,  of  course,  you  must  caress  and 
feed  him,  and  keep  hiiu  repeating,  until,  Avhen  you  make  the 
demand,  he  will  bring  the  foot  forward  in  anticipation  of  having 
it  pulled  up. 

How  to  Make  a  Horse  Bow. 

Prick  him  in  the  breast  with  a  pin,  till  he  throws  his  head 
down  and  up  the  least  bit ;  then  take  the  pin  away,  and  caress 
him  kindly  ;  repeat  for  a  few  times,  until  when  jo\i  stand  back 
and  attract  his  attention,  he  will  nod  his  head,  expecting  a  prick 
in  the  breast. 


-50- 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Walk  on  His  Knees. 

The  reader  will  observe,  by  reading  my  book,  that  great  use  is 
made  of  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  and  if  those  who  handle  horses 
will  always  resort  to  it  when  obedience  from  the  horse  is  desired, 
they  will  save  much  time,  trouble  and  anno^^ance  that  so  often 
occur,  especially  to  persons  who  quickly  lose  their  tempers. 
Men  can  accomplish  more  in  fifteen  minutes  using  the  bridle  than 
in  fifteen  hours  with  any  other  means,  as  it  does  not  inflict  a 
severe  punishment  when  properly  used,  but  never  fails  to  secure 
obedience.  Therefore,  as  in  most  cases  it  is  used.  I,  in  the  present, 
introduce  it  again. 

Put  a  surcingle  on  the  horse,  attach  a  strap  to  his  nigh  fore- 
foot between  the  fetlock  joint  and  hoof  and  draw  it  up  to  within 
eight  or  ten  inches  of  his  body,  then  take  a  strap  or  cord,  say  6 
or  7  feet  long,  and  fasten  it  to  his  oif  fore-leg  in  the  same  manner 
and  secure  the  services  of  some  person  to  assist  you,  directing 
him  to  stand  on  the  oif-side,  and,  when  directed,  to  pull  up  his 
foot.  Place  on  the  horse  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  and  take  your 
position  in  front  of  him  with  bridle  in  hand,  requesting  assistant 
to  pull,  when  your  horse  will  come  down  on  his  knees,  now  pull 
on  your  bridle  and  say,  "Come  here,"  when  he  will  soon  obey 
you.  Do  not  make  your  lessons  long,  but  repeat  them  often  ; 
not  forgetting  to  caress  him  if  he  should  make  the  slightest  move 
towards  3^ou. 

Never  attempt  to  teach  a  horse  this  trick  with  shoes  on  his 
hind-feet,  as  he  might  cut  himself,  which  would  cause  him  to 
dread  a  second  efi'ort. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  be  Vicious. 

Many  persons  are  incredulous  in  regard  to  the  assertion  that 
horses  can  be  educated ;  had  one  lived  a  hundred  years  ago  he 
might  have  been  excused  for  such  incredulitv  but  in  this  ao^e  of 
knowledge  and  advancement  in  all  departments  of  human  life, 
no  man  should  close  his  eyes  to  any  of  the  developments  wrought 
by  man's  ingenuit3\  That  the  horse  possesses  more  intelligence 
than  many  are  dis^^osed  to  admit,  facts  abundantly  prove,  and 


-51  — 

that  lie  is  quite  as  susceptible  of  acquiring  evil  and  vicious  habits 
as  is  man,  tlie  following  trick  will  show. 

My  horse,  Prince  Albert,  appears  to  enjoy  the  subjoined  trick 
greatly,  and  I  regard  it  as  quite  a  sensational  one.  To  educate 
a  horse  to  be  vicious  you  have  only  to  attract  his  attention,  and 
tlien  appear  to  be  afraid  of  him.  For  instance,  strike  him  lightly 
with  a  whip  on  the  knees,  then  run  away  from  him,  and  after 
you  have  repeated  this  a  few  times  he  will  run  after  you.  You 
may  make  the  trick  more  interesting  by  calling  him  names,  such 
as  ''a  nigger,''  '"a  mean  horse,"  and  on  speaking  the  words  run 
from  him.  But  be  careful  to  have  some  place  of  safety,  so  that? 
when  he  follows,  you  may  get  out  of  his  reach,  as  at  some  time 
he  may  dissappoint  and  overtake  you  and  mete  out  a  punishment 
that  will  be  anything  out  pleasing  or  desirable. 

How  to  Teach  a  Horse  to  Laugh. 

Prick  him  with  a  pin  on  the  nose  till  he  turns  his  lip  up  ;  then 
caress  him  well.  He  will  soon  learn  that  when  you  point  towards 
him  and  say,  ''Laugh,"  that  it  means  a  prick  in  the  nose,  if  he 
does  not  turn  his  lip  up. 

To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Push  a  Vehicle. 

After  your  horse  has  been  taught  to  mount  a  pedestal  with  his 
fore-feet,  and  to  stand  and  walk  upright  on  his  hind-feet  it  is  a 
comparatively  easy  task  to  educate  him  to  mount  upon  a  vehicle 
and  push  it.  It  is  not  at  all  necessary  that  a  horse  shouki  be  at- 
tiiclied  to  it  in  front. 

In  this  trick  it  will  be  scarcely  necessary  for  the  educator  to 
put  the  Bonaparte  bridle  on  his  horse  unless  he  should  show 
some  stubbornness,  but,  Avith  biting  rig  on,  stand  near  his  head? 
whip  in  hand,  and  say  to  him  in  rather  a  loud  and  sharp  tone  of 
voice,  "Get  up  !■ '  Some  fear  on  his  part  may  be  manifested,  still 
do  not  give  up  nor  lose  your  patience,  but  lift  his  feet  up  and 
caress  him.  When  he  does  get  up  do  not  at  first  allow  the  vehicle 
to  move,  nor  until  he  hks  mounted  two  or  three  times,  then  say 
to  him,  "Push  !"  and  in  a  short  time  you  will  have  taught  him 


-52  — 

not  only  to  get  up  on  the  veliicle  but  to  push  it  in  front  of  him. 
After  your  horse  has  been  thoroughly  taught,  you  will  discover 
that  he  is  delighted  to  amuse  you,  and  he  will  ax)pear  pleased  to 
participate  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  trick. 

How  to  Make  a  Horse  go  Lame. 

Tap  him  on  the  fore-leg  till  he  holds  it  up,  then  caress  him 
kindly  ;  lead  him  with  the  left  hand  to  the  bit,  and  tap  the  left 
fore-leg  with  a  stick  in  your  right  hand;  repeat  the  word  ''lame 
lame,  lame,"'  and  your  horse  will  soon  learn  to  hold  up  one  leg  at 
the  command. 

To  Educate  the  Horse  to  Walk  on  his  Hind  Feet. 

Make  the  Bonaparte  bridle,  and  put  it  on  your  horse ;  also  put 
on  a  bitting  rig,  which  is  no  trouble,  but  necessary,  draw- 
ing his  head  pretty  well  up  and  in.  ^ow  stand  near  his  head 
with  bridle  in  hand,  and  jerk  upward,  as  though  you  desired  to 
lift  him  up,  at  the  same  time  repeating  the  words,  ^'stand  up  on 
your  hind  feet !"'  repeat  this  several  times,  and  if  he  does  not 
make  a  move  to  please  you,  take  hold  of  one  leg,  raising  him  up 
with  one  hand  and  using  the  bridle  with  the  other,  as  before 
directed,  not  forgetting  to  caress  him  if  he  makes  the  slightest 
move  in  the  direction  of  obedience.  In  order  to  ensure  success, 
kindness  and  patience  should  be  the  ruling  principles.  After  you 
have  taught  your  horse  to  stand  on  his  hind  feet  you  will  next 
educate  him  to  walk  ui)right.  This  can  be  easily  done  b}'  observing 
the  following  directions.  Stand  in  front  of  him,  whip  in  hand,  say- 
ing, "Get  up !"  then  shake  the  whip  in  front  of  him,  stex)ping  back- 
wards slowly,  at  the  same  time  say  to  him,  "Come  here  !''  repeat- 
ing it  sharply  and  touching  him  gently  with  the  whip  on  the 
knees.  By  carefull}^  observingthe  above  directions,  you  will  quickly 
teach  your  horse  to  stand  upright,  and  to  walk  on  his  hind  feet. 

How  to  Make  a  Horse  Say  "No." 

Prick  him  on  the  neck  at  the  terminus  of  the  mane  till  he 
shakes  his  head,  then  remove  the  pin,  caress  him,  repeat  for  a 
while,  and  your  horse  will  soon  shake  his  head  when  you  raise 


—  53  — 

your  hand  to  your  lieart ;  be  always  sure  to  treat  the  animal 
kindly  for  well-doing,  and  caress  him  wiien.  he  deserves  it,  and  lie 
will  repay  you  by  his  love  for  you  and  willingness  to  do  your 
biddins;. 


■&' 


To  Educate  a  Horse  to  Mount  a  Pedestal. 

First  make  the  Gleason  bridle,  and  place  it  on  your  horse, 
then  lead  him  quietly  up  to  the  pedestal,  and  say  to  him,  ^'Get 
up  witli  your  forefeet!''  of  course  he  will  not  obey";  now  you 
must  teach  him  your  meaning.  While  you  hold  the  bridle  let 
some  one  take  hold  of  his  front  foot,  raise  it  carefully  and  place 
it  on  the  pedestal ;  then  caress  him,  after  which  say  ''Get  down  !" 
at  the  same  time  using  your  bridle  in  gently  backing  him. 
When  he  puts  his  foot  down  do  not  omit  to  caress  him.  Kepeat 
this  until  he  will  obey  when  spoken  to,  then  go  through  the 
same  process  watli  the  other  foot.  After  this,  place  both  feet  on 
the  pedestal ;  then  require  him  to  get  dow^n,  then  up  and  down 
till  he  will  obey  you  without  the  use  of  the  bridle.  Great  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  excite  the  horse  while  educating  him,  for 
when  excited  his  brain  becomes  muddled,  and  he  is  unfitted  for 
retaining  your  instruction. 

To  make  your  horse  stand  on  three  legs ;  take  a  pin,  and  place 
it  in  the  end  of  your  whip-stock,  and  with  the  point  prick  him 
slightly  on  the  leg,  in  front,  just  below  the  fetlock  joint,  but  not 
hard  enough  to  make  him  kick  ;  repeat  this  several  times  accom- 
panied by  the  words,  "hold  up  your  foot !"  continuing  to  rejjeat 
the  punishment  and  words  until  he  will  obey  the  command  with- 
out punishment. 


How  to  Make  a  Horse  Waltz. 

Tie  his  head  to  his  side  by  means  of  a  surcingle  and  cord, 
fastening  the  cord  at  the  side,  r.eaching  from  the  mouth  :  touch 
him  lightly  with  the  whip.  He  has  to  go,  and,  of  course,  he  must 
go  around  and  around.  He  soon  learns  perfectly  to  waltz  by  the 
motion  of  the  whip,  the  teacher  still  repeating  the  word  "waltz." 


HoAV  To  Buy. 


.    Get  Correct  Information. 

Every  horse  owner  sooner  or  later  becomes  a  judge  of  what  he 
is  buying.  If  he  dej^ends  entirely  upon  the  lessons  learned 
through  cheats  are  practiced  upon  him  b}^  sharp  jockej^s,  life  is 
too  short  for  him  ever  to  become  an  adept  in  distinguishing  vice, 
unsoundness,  ''  dosed  up"  and  used  up  horses  as  among  the 
various  tricks  and  swindles  practiced  upon  the  ignorant  and 
unwary.  Generally  after  being  cheated,  or  absolutely  swind-ed 
a  few  times,  the  breeder  goes  to  the  only  correct  source  of  infor- 
mation, concisely  written  and  carefully  illustrated  books.  He 
is  thus  enabled  not  onh'  to  study,  but  subsequently  to  carry  in  liis 
mind  what  he  has  read  and  seen ;  he  comes  to  compare  critically 
the  living  animal  with  the  illustrations  and  descriptions,  and 
thus  becomes  an  expert  himself,  and  in  a  tenth  part  of  the  time 
by  which  he  could  acquire  correct  information  in  any  other  wa}'. 
This  is  precisely  the  means  used  by  any  professional  man  in  the 
acquisition  of  true  knowledge  in  the  pursuit  of  his  profession, 
whether  it  be  in  a  learned  profession  or  in  the  education  to  prac- 
tical art.     Thereafter  practice  makes  perfect. 

II,    The  Buyer. 

Suppose  he  is  looking  for  stock  from  which  to  breed  trotting 
horses.  He  mast  then  consider  the  t^^j^e  of  horse  he  wishes  to 
breed  ;  whether  for  speed  alone,  or  for  st^de  and  speed.  That 
is,  first  class  road  horses,  or  large,  strong,  able  horses,  com- 
bining in  as  great  a  degree  as  may  be  large  size,  strength,  endu- 
rance and  such  style  as  may  be  conformable  with  this  class  of 
horses. 


—  56  — 

As  showing  what  may  be  doue  iu  colts  got  by  breeding  up  out 
of  roomy  mares  of  fair  style,  bred  to  high  class  trotting  stallions, 
we  give  two  cuts  of  stallions,  certainly"  good  enough  for  sires, 
and  as  models  of  what  such  horses  should  be.  The  first  showing- 
eminent  breeding,  with  style  enough ;  rather  straight  on  his  fet- 
locks, according  to  the  idea  of  man}'-  good  horsemen,  but  with 
length  enough,  from  our  standpoint,  to  give  flexibility.  A  horse 
compact  and  smooth,  with  excellent  flat  and  sinewy  limbs,  good 
i'aet,  ample  chest,  good  lungs,  fine  eye,  broad  forehead,  and 
strong  jaws.  The  head  not  the  ideal  of  modern  •'  blood  horse- 
men," but  nevertheless  sliowing  docility  and  intelligence  in  a 
high  degree.     Showing  also  high  breeding  in  every  part. 

The  cut  on  page  55  is  of  a  horse  of  great  style  and  endurance, 
fine  all  over.  A  horse  that  will  go  witii  his  head  well  up  ;  liml)s 
exceedingly  fine,  mane  rather  light,  but  with  plenty  of  tail,  as  a 
horse  should  have ;  evidently  sliowing  thorough  blood. 

For  real  and  intrinsic  merit,  the  first  should  be  taken.  There 
is  plenty  of  style  about  him,  and  strength.  There  is  also  a  body 
of  fine  character  on  limbs  of  great  power.  Such  will  be  found 
acceptable  and  sought  after  always  by  gentlemen  wanting  a  sin- 
gle horse,  or  a  pair  for  driving  on  the  road,  or  for  driving  in 
the  city  park^^.  Either  of  the  two  will  make  capital  and  stylish 
saddle  horses,  if  well  trained,  such  as  no  gentleman  of  ordi- 
nary weight  or  lady  need  be  ashamed  of  when  taking  the  after- 
noon trot  or  canter  on  the  fashionable  boulevards  or  park- 
drives  of  our  large  cities,  or  on  the  streets  or  roadways  of  cities 
having  no  parks.  The  first  the  best  horse,  the  second  the  most 
stylish. 

Another  good  horse  is  of  large  size  and  strong  build,  adapted 
for  draAving  as  a  single  horse  for  the  coupe,  or  one  of  a  team  to 
the  family  carriage  ;  as  one  of  a  pair  for  a  coach  or  barouche, 
one  that  will  give  satisfaction  almost  anywhere,  if  not  driven 
over  eight  miles  an  hour,  and  capable  as  well  of  hauling  loads 
on  good  roads,  at  a  fast  walking  pace. 

A  horse  of  this  stamp,  sixteen  to  sixteen  and  half  hands 
high,  not  particularly  heavy  set,  rather  long-limbed,  with  rangy 
neck  and  good  head,  with  plenty  of  spirit  and  weighing  about 


—  58  — 

1200  pouuds,  may  be  called  a  general  utility  horse.  Such  will  com- 
mand ready  sale  at  any  time,  if  well  broken  and  trained,  say  at 
from  $200  to  8300  each,  and  if  imrticularly  nice  and  well  matched, 
often  at  $800  or  $900  a  pair,  as  carriage  horses  when  five  or  six 
years  old. 

III.    Proportions  of  the  Horse. 


PKOPOKTIONS    OF   THE   VARIOUS    PARTS. 

To  arrive  at  a  clear  understanding  of  the  proportions  of  the 
horse,  we  give  an  outline  that  will  be  a  good  otud}-,  not  only  for 
the  beginner,  but  will  be  valuable  for  reference  for  an}^  horse- 
man, however  expert  he  may  be.  This  illustration  combines  the 
average  measurements  of  six  horses,  accepted  for  perfect  symme- 
try, and  taken,  saj^s  one  of  the  most  graphic  and  lucid  of  Avriters 
on  the  horse — two  of  them  from  celebrated  stallions,  two  from 
tlioroughbred  hunters,  and  two  from  chargers  of  great  value. 
This,  therefore,  will  not  apply  to  draft  horses,  but  it  will  be 


-59- 

found  that  the  nearer  the  general   utility  horse  comes   to  these 
measurements,  the  better  he  will  be. 

INCHES. 

Height , 63 

Length  from  shoulder-point  to  quarter 66 

From  the  lowest  part  of  the  chest  to  the  ground 36 

From  the  elbow-point  to  the  ground 39 

From  the  withers  to  the  pole,  just  behind  the  ears,  m  a  straii^ht  line. .   30 

The  same  measured  along  the  crest 32 

Length  of  head 22 

"Width  across  the  forehead 9  1-2 

From  the  witliers  to  the  hip 22 

From  the  stifle  to  the  point  of  the  hock,  in  the  attitude  shown  in 

the  plan 29 

From  the  root  of  the  tail  to  the  stifle-joint 26 

From  the  point  of  the  hock  to  the  ground 22  1-2 

Length  of  arm  from  the  elbow  to  the  pisiform  bone  (the  rear  bone  of 

those  forming  the  upper  articulation  of  the  knee) 19  1-2 

From  the  i>isiform  bone  to  the  ground  19  1-2 

Girth  varies  from 78  to  79 

Circumference    of    fore-cannon   bone    (large   metacarpel   or    shank 

bone,    extending  from  the  knee  to  the  fetlock) 

7  1-2,  8,  8,  8,  8  12  and  9 

Circumference  of  arm  just  below  the  elbow 16  1-2  to  18 

The  foregoing  is  not  to  be  taken  as  a  fixed  rule  in  comparing 
ordinary  horses,  nor  even  those  well-bred.  For  the  hunting 
field,  the  fine  saddle  horse,  or  any  of  the  uses  to  which  practical 
men  put  their  liorses,  aside  from  flat  racing,  select  as  many  of  the 
superior  points  of  the  horse  as  described,  as  you  can  find,  and 
beware  of  low  withers  and  high  croup.  The  horse  that  will 
come  to  the  standard  that  we  have  given  in  the  diagram,  is  as 
a  rule  the  horse  to  bu3\ 

IV.    The  Cleveland  Bay  for  Profit. 

Of  late  years  this  admirable  and  stylish  horse  as  improved 
from  the  old  farm  iiorse  of  fifty  years  ago,  has  attracted  attention 
in  the  tTnited  States,  and  especialh"  in  the  West,  where  many 
fair  specimens  have  been  imported.  He  often  has  dashes  of 
white  which   do  not   detract   from  the  style  of  any  horse,  and 


—  60— 

show  breeding.  It  is  a  horse  showing  blood  and  breeding,  Avith 
lofty  crest,  niagnificient  withers,  round  barrelled,  and  clean 
limbed,  a  coat  like  satin,  and  a  head  of  excellent  proportions. 
Colts  from  such  a  horse  out  of  large,  roomy  mares  of  good  style, 
will  always  sell  for  high  prices.  When  you  find  such  a  stallion 
do  not  be  afraid  to  buy,  he  will  paj-,  and  his  foals  will  i)ay  for 
their  feed  and  training. 

The  old  fashioned  horse  of  this  race,  the  Cleveland  bay,  is  ex- 
tinct and  gone.  The  present  form  is  the  result  of  crosses  with 
staunch  thoroughbreds,  giving  better  form  throughout,  greater 
speed  and  good  style.  We  consider  them  as  among  the  very  best 
from  which  to  breed  stylish  animals  from  proper  mares.  Horses 
that  may  do  the  ordinary  farm  work  until  six  years  past,  and 
then  be  sold  at  good  prices  for  stylish  omnibus,  express,  light 
draft,  and  carriage  horses  in  our  cities.  Persons  who  have 
laroe,  well  built  mares,  wishing  to  breed  colts  that  shall  have 
size  enough  for  any  farm  or  road  work ;  that  will  breed  to  uni- 
form color,  so  that  they  may  be  easily  matched  ;  that  will  have 
style — not  that  of  the  blood  horse,  or  light  driving,  or  trotting 
l^orse — will  do  well  to  investigate  the  characteristics  of  the  Cleve- 
land bays.  Canada  has  acquired  a  high  reputation  for  stylish, 
well  matched  coach  horses.  It  is  founded  in  a  great  measure 
upon  crosses  produced  by  breeding  the  modern  Cleveland  bays 
upon  large,  handsome  mares  of  more  or  less  breeding. 

Such  horses  if  properly  cared  for  will  do  eight  or  nine  miles 
an  hour,  in  harness,  and  under  the  saddle  may  be  pushed  up  to 
twelve  miles  an  hour ;  are  active  in  all  their  gaits,  tractable, 
easily  managed,  intelligent,  fast  walkers,  alwaj^s  ready  for  their 
feed,  and  as  eager  at  labor,  as  they  are  kind  and  intelligent  every 
where.  The  late  Henry  William  Herbert,  a  thorough  horseman, 
an  accurate  judge  of  horseflesh,  and  a  finished  writer,  in  his  vol- 
uminous work,  ^'  The  Horse  o."  America,"  thus  describes  the 
original  Cleveland  bay,  and  also  the  improved  horse  of  his 
time  :  ^'  The  Cle\  eland  bay  in  its  natural  and  unmixed  form,  is  a 
tall,  j)Owei'ful^^y  built,  bony  animal,  averaging,  I  should  say,  fif- 
teen hands  three  inches  in  height,  rarely  falling  short  of  fifteen 
and  a  half  or  exceeding  sixteen  and  a,  half  hands. 


—61  — 

Tlie  crest  and  withers  are  almost  invariably  good,  the  head 
bon}',  lean,  and  well  set  on.  Ewe-necks  are,  probably,  rarer  in 
this  family  than  any  other,  unk^ss  it  be  the  dray-horse,  in  which 
it  is  never  seen. 

The  faults  of  shape  to  which  the  Cleveland  bay  is  most  liable  are 
narrowness  of  body,  and  flatness  of  tLe  cannon  and  shank  bones. 
Their  color  is  universally  bay,  rather  on  the  yellow  bay  than  on 
the  blood  bay  color,  with  black  mane,  tail  and  legs. 

They  are  sound,  hard}^,  a.tivo,  powerful  horses,  with  excellent 
capabilities  for  draft,  acd  good  endurance,  so  long  as  they  are  not 
pushed  bej^ond  their  speed,  which  may  be  estimated  at  from  six 
to  eight  miles  an  hour,  on  a  trot,  or  from  ten  to  twelve— the  latter 
quite  the  maximum — on  a  gallop,  under  almost  any  weight. 

The  large  and  more  showy  of  these  animals,  of  the  tallest  and 
heaviest  tj^pe,  were  th.e  favorite  coach  horses  of  their  day;  the 
more  springy  and  lightly  built,  of  equal  height  were  the  hunters, 
in  the  daj^s  when  the  fox  v.  as  hunted  by  his  drag,  unkenneled, 
and  run  half  a  dozen  hours  or  more,  before  he.was  either  earthed  or 
worn  out  and  worried  to  death.  Then  thc^,  shorter,  lower,  and  more 
closely  ribbed  up  were  the  roadhackne- .  a  st^^le  of  horse  unhappily 
now  almost  extinct,  and  havingunequally  substituted  in  its  place  a 
wretched,  weed}',  half-bred  or  .three-quarters-bred  beast,  fit  neither 
to  go  the  pace  with  a  weigh o  on  its  back   nor  to  last  the  time. 

From  these  Cleveland  Bays  liowever  though  in  their  pure 
state  nearly  extinct,  a  very  superior  animal  lias  descended,  which, 
after  several  steps  and  gradations,  has  settled  dov/n  into  a  com- 
mon family,  as  the  farm  horse,  and  ri(''- g  or  driving  horse  of  the 
firmers.  has  about  two  crosses,  moie  or  less,  of  blood  on  the 
original  Cleveland  stock. 

The  first  gradation  when  pace  became  a  desideratum,  vv^as  the 
stint'ng  Ox"  the  bes'  Cleveland  Bay  mares  to  good  thorough-bred 
horses,  with  a  view  to  the  progeny  turning  out  hunters,  troop 
horses,  or,  in  the  last  resort,  stage-coach  horses,  or,  as  they  were 
termed,  machines.  The  most  promising  of  these  well  bred  colts 
were  kept  as  stallions ;  and  mares  of  the  same  type,  with  their 
dams,  stinted  to  them  produced  the  improved  carrriage  horse  of 
fifty  years  ago. 


-62- 

Tlie  next  step  was  putting  the  half-breed  fillies,  by  thorougli- 
breds  out  of  Cleveland  Bay  mares,  a  second  time  to  thorough-bred 
stallions  ;  their  progeny  to  become  the  hunters,  while  themselves 
and  their  brothers  were  lowered  into  the  carriage  horses ;  and 
the  half-bred  stallions  wiiich  had  been  the  getters  of  carriage 
horses  were  degraded  into  the  sires  of  the  new,  improved  cart 
horse. 

V.  The  Light  Harness  Horse. 

In  many  cases,  where  the  roads  are  superior,  and  the  animal 
is  used  in  a  vehicle  of  the  lightest  construction,  to  carry  only  one 
person,  size  is  not  always  necessary.  Very  many  horses  of  four- 
teen and  a  half  hands,  are  exquisitely  handsome  and  capable  of 
very  fast  work.  One  of  the  best  I  ever  knew  was  a  St.  Law- 
rence mare  fourteen  hands  high,  that  very  few  large  horses  could 
get  by  on  a  smooth  road — the  "  Bab}^,"  as  she  was  called — w^hen 
driven  on  a  track,  always  going  as  a  pacer. 

VI.  Saddle  Horses  of  all  Gaits. 

It  is  well  that  America's  sons  have  taken  kindh^  to  the  sad- 
dle. It  is  well  enough  for  men  of  mature  age  to  favor  the  buggy 
or  light  wagon,  but  every  young  man  and  woman  who  can, 
should  learn  to  sit  a  horse  perfectly,  and  to  manage  him  at  all 
gaits.  In  the  South  this  is  the  case,  but  in  the  Xorth  the  per- 
fect saddle-seated  rider  is  not  so  frequently  found.  Lately,  thor- 
oughly trained  saddle  horses  are  much  sought  after  in  our  cities, 
and  certainly  there  is  no  place  where  they  may  be  so  perfectlj^ 
trained  as  in  the  West.  It  would  oe  well  for  the  farmer  to 
have  at  least  one  well  trained  saddle  horse  to  sell  when  called 
for.  Twelve  months  training  will  put  them  in  form.  For  good 
wear-and-tear,  compact,  able  as  a  good  leaper,  of  fine  form,  and 
undoubted  bottom  for  any  distance,  the  illustration  showing  a 
saddle  horse  of  good  form,  will  give  an  idea  of  what  a  saddle 
horse  should  be. 

VII.    The  High-bred  Hunting  Horse. 

When  a  long  stride,  great  leaping  powers,  and  abilit}^  to  go 
long  distances  at  high  speed  is  required,  the  horse  should  be  not 
less  than   one-half  to  three-quarters  bred.      A  greater  propor- 


—64  — 

tion  even  is  favored  in  the  South,  where  the  passion  for  hunting 
is  only  second  to  tliat  in  England.  A  horse  of  extra  good  ac- 
tion will  combine  size,  indicating  capacity  for  canying  great 
weight ;  high  breeding,  shown  in  the  crest  and  head  ;  wonderful 
lungs;  great  length  of  liip  and  limbs,  and  being  near  perfection 
as  possible  •  a  high  caste  horse  that  will  not  fail  his  rider  in  time 
of  need 

VIII.    Racing  Horses. 

There  is  one  more  class  of  saddle  horses  worth}^  of  special 
notice  :  the  thoroughbred  racing  horse,  the  foundation  upon 
which  has  been  built  all  that  is  valuable  in  every  horse  where 
speed,  bottom,  elegance,  and  great  bone,  sinew  and  muscle  in 
every  respect  are  required.  It  is  the  fact  that  on  the  race  course 
there  have  been  schemes  and  tricks  practiced,  probably  there 
always  will  be  those  scandalous  in  the  extreme,  but  frowned  up- 
on by  all  breeders  of  respectability.  Among  the  more  respectable 
associations  rules  of  the  most  stringent  character  have  been 
drawn,  and  fairly  lived  up  to.  If  dishonest  jockeying  can  be 
still  farther  eliminated  the  true  animus  of  the  turf  may  have  a 
bright  future  before  it  in  still  farther  improving  the  breed  of 
staunch  thoroughbreds,  capable  of  carrying  weight,  and  with 
bottom  to  get  the  rider  two,  three  or  four  miles  at  high 
speed.  These  are  what  are  really  wanted,  and  not  those 
that  at  the  end  of  a  quarter  or  a  half  mile  are  entirely  blown 
and  jaded,  or  as  an  Englishman  would  express  it.  quite 
"  pumped  out." 

IX.    What  the  Racer  Should  Be. 

The  model  racing  horse  should  be  from  fifteen  and  a  half  to 
sixteen  hands  high,  full  and  muscular  in  his  build,  with  cleau; 
sound  limbs,  short  backed,  round  in  the  barrel,  with  long  hips, 
deep  and  oblique  shoulders,  a  rangy  and  not  too  muscular  neck; 
a  head  fine,  bony  and  with  rather  large  muzzle  and  prominent 
nostrils,  broad  in  the  forehead,  with  a  full,  bright,  but  mild  eye, 
denoting  a  high  nervous  temperament,  uniting  great  courage 
with  docilit3\ 


—  65  — 

X.   To  Avoid  Vices  and  Defects.— How  to  Detect. 

They  are  legion  and  lie  who  at  present  buys  any  horse, 
whether  for  speed  or  work  must  bo  on  his  guard  against  them. 
Among  the  prineipal  disabilities  to  be  guarded  against  are : 

1.  BoxE  spAvrx,  CURB,  RixG-BONE  AXD  SPLINTS. — To  detect 
these  look  at  the  horse  from  before  and  behind  for  spavin  and 
curb  at  the  hocks ;  for  ring-bone,  at  the  fetlocks  and  for 
splints,  below  the  knee.  Feel  the  bones  at  all  these  parts  for  ten- 
derness or  enlargement.  If  they  appear  reject  the  horse  in- 
stantly.    He  will  be  worthless  as  a  sire,  or  for  riding  or  driving. 

2.  Stumbling. — Examine  the  knees  to  find  if  they  are  scarred 
or  show  the  marks  of  previous  injuries,  or  that  have  been 
operated  upon  for  collosities.  Then  walk  him  over  somewhat 
rough  ground,  and  at  a  slow  pace,  with  an  entirely  loose  rein,  to 
see  if  he  trips  or  goes  weaker  on  one  leg  than  on  the  other.  If 
he  is  a  stumbler,  he  is  the  most  dangerous  animal  a  man  can 
own,  unless  it  be  a  kicker ;  in  fact,  more  so  than  the  latter,  since 
k' eking  may  be  guarded  against,  when  knowing  the  vice. 

3.  Kicking. — If  this  is  suspected,  the  animal  will  lay  back 
his  ears  if  approached  in  an  apparently  careless  manner,  though 
horses  do  this  sometimes  from  mere  playfulness.  If  they  are 
vicious,  they  will  lay  their  ears  more  completely  back,  and  the 
eyes  will  also  denote  their  intention.  Examine  the  stall  where 
it  is  known  they  have  stood  for  marks  of  the  hoofs,  and  above 
all,  give  the  animal  a  chance  to  show  his  propensity  when  the 
groom  is  not  near. 

4.  Pulling  at  the  halter  or  bridle  when  tied. — Tie  him 
up  in  a  close  yard,  with  a  halter  he  can  easily  break,  leaving  him 
quite  alone  for  about  half  an  hour,  to  exhibit  his  propensity  if  he 
will. 

5.  Crib-biting. — If  the  horse  is  a  confirmed  crib-biter,  his 
teeth — the  central  incisors — will  show  wear  where  he  has  grasped 
objects  to  enable  him  to  get  leverage  to  perform  the  operation. 
Tie  him  out  to  a  stump,  or  at  a  post  about  three  feet  high,  and 
watch  him,  no  person  being  in  his  sight. 

6.  Balking  and  backing  — Horses  seldom  balk  under  the 
saddle,  when  thej^  do,  they  are  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  often 


-66- 

stopping  suddenly  when  under  motion,  or  backing  into  dangerous 
places.  It  is  diiticult  to  detect,  for  they  will  sometimes  go  days, 
weeks  and  even  months  all  right,  and  then  suddenly"  show  the 
vice.  As  a  rule,  it  is  exhibited  by  bad  tempered,  badly  traimd 
horses.  A  warrant  from  a  respectable  owner  is  the  best  guar- 
antee. It  may  sometimes  be  detected,  if  a  person  strange  to  the 
horse  mounts  and  attempts  to  start  him  suddenly.  In  harness 
it  may  often  be  detected  by  the  manner  in  which  the  animal  starts 
and  travels. 

7.  The  Rogue. — The  rogue  is  the  horse  of  vices;  he  may 
take  the  bit  in  his  mouth  and  run  away,  he  will  rear,  back,  kick, 
strike,  bite  and  do  twenty  other  unpleasant  tricks,  not  always 
from  pure  vice,  but  often  from  exhuberance  of  sjnrits,  or  from 
being  crossed  in  some  way.  They  generally  perform  well  enough 
after  they  have  found  out  that  their  rider  is  their  master.  They 
are  difficult  to  detect  in  their  vices,  except  by  the  thorough  horse- 
man, who  is  well  versed  in  every  expression  or  act  of  the  horse. 

8.  BiSHOPED  Teeth.  -  So  named  from  the  scoundrel  who  in- 
vented filing  an  old  horse's  teeth  to  make  him  look  young,  even 
to  burnhig  and  blackening  the  cups  formed  A  careful  study  of 
the  chart  of  the  horse's  teeth,  given  in  this  book,  will  enable  any 
person  to  detect  this,  since  it  is  impossible  to  cover  the  shrinking 
of  the  gums,  by  which  the  teeth  show  narrow,  and  are  peculiar 
in  shape. 

9.  Weax  Eyes. — Whatever  the  occasion,  have  nothing  to  do 
with  a  horse  with  bad  eyes.  Bring  the  animal  from  a  rather 
dark  stable  just  inside  the  door  where  the  full  light  may  strike 
the  eyes.  Examine  the  lids  and  pupils  carefully,  to  see  if  then 
is  any  considerable  shrinking ;  the  eye  should  be  able  to  bear  the 
full  light.  Horses  are  sometimes  near-sighted,  and  also  far 
sighted.  Nearly  all  shying  horses  become  so  either  from  defect  in  vis'o)i 
or  from  cowardice. 

10.  Moox  Eyes  — This  is  a  specific  ophthalmy,  from  which 
one  or  both  eyes  periodicall}^  change  color,  and  during  the  par- 
oxysm it  may  become  entirel}^  blind.  During  the  interval  the  eye- 
look  natural.  It  is  better,  if  the  buyer  suspects  this,  to  tike 
a  warranty  against  it. 


-67- 

11.  Blixdness.— This  is  sometimes  difficult  to  detect  by  the 
ordinary  observer  by  looking  at  the  eyes.  In  rare  cases  the 
eyes  may  seem  natural  A  blind  horse,  however,  may  be  detected 
by  his  mode  of  progression.  He  will  take  high  steps  and  often 
appear  afraid  to  proceed. 

XI.    Other  Faults  and  Imperfections. 

The  disabilities  noticed  in  the  previous  sections  are  those 
of  positive  unsoundness,  or  else  of  determined  vice.  Some 
others  that  should  not  be  overlooked,  are  easily  examined  by 
careful  examination  and  test.     These  are  : 

1.  Glass  Eye. —This,  if  not  complicated  with  specific  disease, 
does  not  interfere  with  sight  in  any  respect.  It  is  a  serious 
defect,  simply  so  far  as  looks  are  concerned.  Usually  only  one 
eye  has  this  peculiar  white  glassy  appearance,  the  pupil  perfect, 
and  the  iris  quite  natural.  It  should  affect  the  price  of  the  ani- 
mal, only  as  detracting  from  elegance. 

2.  White  Spot. — Sometimes  a  small  white  spot  will  appear 
on  the  eye  of  a  young  horse,  generally  after  three  years  of  age, 
and  usually  near  the  outer  corner.  It  has  a  peculiar  cloudy 
appearance,  sometimes  increasing  to  the  size  of  a  hemp  seed,  and 
occasionally  larger.  The  duration  is  variable,  sometimes  lasting 
for  years,  and  again  disappearing  in  a  short  time.  It  really 
impairs  the  vision  but  little,  if  any.  Unless  its  history  is  known 
a  veterinary  surgeon  should  decide  whether  it  is  incipient  cata- 
ract or  not.  Some  veterinarians  have  termed  it  spurious  cataract, 
but  this  is  entirely  a  misnomer.  The  name  white  spot  describes 
it  perfectly. 

3.  Roaring. —This  is  the  result  of  obstructi<m  in  some  pait 
of  the  larynx  or  trachea,  impeding  the  breath,  and  causing  a 
peculiar  roaring  sound  when  the  animal  is  in  motion.  It  is  rarely 
fi)und  in  the  United  States,  being  chiefly  confinod  to  draft  horses. 
It  is  often  the  result  of  chronic  cough.  In  England  it  is  quite 
common,  and  when  present  in  a  horse  of  fast  work,  will  render 
him  worthless  for  the  road.  It  may  be  discovered  by  urging  the 
horse  to  a  fast  gait. 


—  68  — 

• 

4.  Obliq'Je  Tail,  or  Wry  Tail. — This  is  caused  by  contrac- 
tion of  the  muscles  of  tlie  tail  on  one  side.  It  may  sometimes  be 
iLui)roved  by  a  surgical  operation,  and  should  be  considered  a 
serious  defect  in  an}^  horse,  and  especially  so  in  a  diiving  horse. 

5.  Turning  the  Toe  of  the  Hoof  out  or  ix  Unduly,  Sand 
Cracks,  Quarter  Cracks,  Dish  Hoofs,  Over-reaching,  Inter- 
fering, ETC,  are  all  to  be  looked  for  before  finally  buying  a 
liorse.  They  are  all  disabilities  that  sliouUl  not  be  present  where 
the  purchaser  pays  full  price  for  the  animal.  They  are,  how 
ever,  all  so  apparent  that  the  purchaser  is  to  blame  if  he  fails  to 
see  them. 

G.  Wolf  Teeth  — These  rudimentary  teeth,  which  are  found 
in  some  hoi'ses  but  not  in  mares,  and  which  have  been  supposed 
by  ignorant  persons  to  produce  blindness,  and  other  diseases, 
are  entirely  harmless,  except  for  the  abrasion  they  sometime  oc- 
casion to  the  tongue  and  cheeks.  If  they  do  so  thej^  are  easily 
taken  out  by  any  sensible  blacksmith.  In  fact  it  is  quite  well 
to  extract  them,  not  that  they  vfill  produce  serious  disease,  but 
simply  because  they  are  n()t  of  any  value,  are  useless  to  the  ani- 
mal, and  may  occasion  slight  inconvenience. 

7.  Shying. — This  is  one  of  the  most  dangerous  habits  a  horse 
can  have,  whether  it  be  occasioned  by  cowardice — seldom  the 
case  ;  injudicious  punishment  is  more  common — or  from  defective 
eyesight,  or  from  all  these  combined.  If  you  are  so  unfortunate 
as  to  have  a  shying  horse  endeavor  to  break  him  of  the  vice  by 
allowing  him  to  examine  objects  of  which  he  is  afraid,  by  speak- 
ing soothingly  to  him,  but  never  by  whipping  or  spurring  him. 
When  he  shows  a  disposition  to  shy  turn  his  head  to  rather  than 
from  the  object.  Stop  him ;  let  him  approach  the  object  and 
touch  it  with  his  nose,  for  soon  he  will  approach  it  himself.  It 
simply  caused  by  nerveousness,  he  may  thus  be  cured.  If  caused 
b}^  being  short  sighted  there  is  no  means  of  relief  Before  you 
buy  a  horse  be  certain  that  he  has  not  this  infirmity,  as  dangerous 
an  one  as  it  is  disagreeable.  Su;'h  an  animal  is  only  ht  to  be 
driven  by  the  side  of  another  horse  who  will  keep  him  to  his 
work,  and  upon  which  he  at  length  will  come  to  depend,  or  of 
being  driven  as  a  wheeler  in  a  team  of  four  horses. 


—  69  — 

XII.    Buying  Cheap  Horses. 

I  have  endeavored  to  show  some  of  the  principal  points  to  be 
considered  in  buying  a  horse,  especially  those  relating  to  the  use 
for  wliich  tliey  are  intended.  There  is  one  rule  that  will  always 
ai>ply  in  buying  any  horse.  Xever  buy  him  because  he  is  offered 
at  a  price  evidently  far  below  his  worth,  that  is,  except  it  be 
from  a  friend  that  you  can  trust,  who  does  not  want  the  horse 
himself,  and  wishes  to  do  you  a  favor.  These  cases  will  be  found 
very  rare.  In  every  other  case  rest  assured  the  horse  has  some 
dangerous  vice,  or  is  permanently  unsound.  In  this  country 
never  buy  a  horse  at  any  price  w^hich  has  any  appearance  of 
broken  knees  by  falling.  Hunting  horses  are  too  rare  here  for 
one  to  have  gotten  the  hurt  in  the  field,  and,  accidentally,  by 
beirgput  at  a  barrier  beyond  his  power. 

Eeject  a  horse  with  any  weakness  in  his  eyesight,  unless  you 
have  use  for  a  blind  horse,  then  buy  him  at  a  blind  horse's  price. 
A  one-eyed  horse  may  do  useful,  but  not  elegant  work.  Kever 
buy  a  lame  horse  at  any  price,  until  you  are  assured  that  the  dis- 
ability is  not  permanent. 

Foot  lameness,  except  it  may  be  from  a  slight  corn,  and  conse- 
quently curable,  should  be  an  insuperable  bar  to  purchase.  You 
can  never  patch  up  a  bad  foot.  Therefore  be  sure  you  always 
try  the  intended  purchase  on  a  hard  road.  Many  game  horses, 
dead  lamo  on  hard  roads,  will  get  along  without  much  flinching 
on  soft  roads,  or  the  turf.  If  you  are  certain  as  to  the  cause  of 
the  lameness  and  know  you  can  cure  it,  the  purchase,  as  a  spec- 
ulation, may  do ;  but  never  rely  on  the  assurance  of  the  horse 
dealer.    It  is  his  business  to  sell. 

Never  buy  a  narrow  chested  horse  for  hard  service.  It  shows 
weak  lungs  and  those  liable  to  inflammation.  If  for  saddle, 
avoid  a  ver}^  broad  chested  horse,  though  as  trotters  thev  are 
sometimes  fast.  The  best  and  most  perfect  chest  is  a  medium 
between  the  narrow  and  broad  chest. 

A  tucked  up  washy  looking  horse  should  be  avoided.  They 
may  indeed  do  for  light  work  or  short  drives,  but  are  totally  un- 
fit for  real  work. 


-70- 

In  buying  avoid  all  defects  in  the  wind  ;  be  sure  the  disability 
has  not  been  temporarily  covered  up,  by  special  means  known 
to  horse  dealers.  A  whistler  or  roarer  may  show  no  indication 
of  his  infirmity  at  a  slow  pace,  or  up  to  a  certain  speed.  Be3'ond 
that  it  is  apparent.  Broken  w^ind  is  an  incurable  infirmity  and 
probabl}^  as  distressing  to  the  horse  as  the  asthma  is  to  man.  A 
horse  may  make  more  or  less  noise  and  yet  not  have  broken 
wind.  Any  indication  of  this,  however,  is  to  be  looked  on 
with  sus]3icion. 

In  buying  a  horse  his  points  of  excellence  and  infirmitj^  are 
better  shown  if  only  in  fair  working  condition  than  when  very 
fat.  A  horse  very  fat  is  pretty  nearly  a  useless  creature  until 
his  condition  has  been  brought  down  to  that  of  bone,  sinew  and 
muscle,  with  just  sufficient  fat  to  lubricate,  so  to  speak,  the 
working  parts.  Yet  a  horse  for  slow  draft  may  be  serviceable 
and  carry  far  more  flesh  and  fat  than  one  used  for  fast  work. 
Many  superior  horses  have  been  ruined  b}^  hard  driving  when 
fat,  or  soft. 

XIII.   Color  in  Eelation  to  Value. 

It  is  a  saying  as  trite  as  it  is  old  that  any  color  is  good  in  a 
good  horse.  Yet  a  horse,  however  good  otherwise,  should  be 
invariably  rejected  if  his  coler  is  bad.  For  instance,  it  would 
essentially  mark  both  an  ignorant  and  vulgar  person  who  would 
select  a  piebald,  spotted,  or  otherwise  extraordinary  color  for  a 
carriage  horse.     It  would  savor  of  the  circus  or  show  ring. 

As  saddle  horses  for  gentlemen,  self-colors  are  the  best,  and 
those  distinct.  A  star  in  the  forehead  and  two  white  feet  behind 
give  character.  A  snip  m  the  face,  if  large,  is  objectionable. 
Four  white  stockings  more  so.  Bay,  brown  and  dark  chestnut 
are  the  preferable  colors.  If  the  horse  is  exceptionally  stylish, 
black  and  dapple  gray  are  good  colors.  Gray  horses  are  often 
bad  tempered,  and  black  horses  are  not  as  a  rule,  docile.  For 
ladies'  use  a  dark  cream  color  with  white  mane  and  tail,  or  that 
rare  combmation,  a  dark  chestnut  with  darker  tail  and  mane 
are  elegant  if  of  good  form.  So  a  strawberry  roan,  if  unexcept- 
tionable  in  style  and  form,  is  elegant. 


-71- 

For  single  or  double  light  driving,  all  distinct  colors  are 
good.  Uneven  or  curiously  marked  horses  are  allowable  in  a 
fancy  team — as  a  mismatch  in  distinct  colors — as  it  is  called. 
The  colors  should  be  distinct  and  in  strong  contrast,  or  els'_^ 
harmonious.  A  chestnut  and  a  dark  bay  would  be  harmonious, 
,\nd  3^et  distinct  colors.  So  would  be  a  chestnut  and  a  brown  ; 
a  cream  with  w^hite  mane  and  tail,  and  a  chestnut  with  dark 
mane  and  tail  would  show  a  marked  contrast,  and  yet  be  ele 
gant ;  so  would  be  cream-colored  horses  so  marked.  A  pure 
white  and  a  jet  black  would  be  the  most  marked  contrast  possi- 
ble, and  not  for  a  moment  admissable,  except  both  were  faultless 
in  form  and  style  of  going.  Here  in  fact  is  where  the  fine  art 
lies  in  teams  of  two  distinct  colors  :  AVhatever  the  mismatch  in 
color,  the  team  should  be  as  near  alike  in  form  and  carriage  as 
possible. 

XIV.    Action. 

There  are  really  but  two  styles  of  action :  low,  smooth,  safe 
action,  and  high-stepping,  showy  action.  The  latter  of  little 
account  except  for  parade  and  showing  off  on  the  road  in  con- 
nection with  fine  style.  A  high-stepping  colt  is  as  unsafe  as  he 
ungainl5\  The  action  that  is  slow  and  safe,  and  fast  and  safe,  if 
combined  in  an  animal  is  invaluable, 

A  horse  with  really  good  action  moves  all  his  limbs  evenly, 
and  brings  his  hind  legs  w^ell  under  him  at  every  movement. 
Some  horses  with  round  action  in  front — paddlers  they  are 
called — are  often  staunch  and  sure-footed,  but  this  in  spite  of  this 
action,  not  in  consequence  of  it.  Horses  that  straddle  behind 
are  often  exceedingly  fast  trotters.  Yet  neither  of  these  move- 
ments are  what  would  be  sought,  either  in  a  fine  saddle  horse 
or  in  a  good  harness  horse. 

XV.    Fast-walking  Horses, 

I  have  before  stated  that  a  perfect  and  fast  walking  gait 
is  not  only  indispensable  to  every  horse,  but  the  most  valuable 
gait  a  horse  could  have  for  every  day  use.  Yet  we  seldom  see  a 
horse  that  will  walk  four  and  a  half  or  five  miles  an  hour,  even 


—  72  — 

when  urged  and  in  regular  1-2-3-4  time,  nodding  his  head  har- 
moniously in  cadence.  If  a  purchaser  gets  such  a  horse,  or 
one  that  will  do  four  miles  under  the  saddle  without  stumbling, 
shuffiing,  drop2:)ing  the  step  or  breaking,  be  sure  you  have  a  gcod 
one  at  speed,  if  he  has  speed,  for  mau}^  great  walkers  are  so 
broad  chested  that  they  cannot  trot  fast,  and  in  galloping  they 
will  roll.  Yet  occasionally  a  horse  will  be  found  good  at  all 
gaits.  AVhen  so,  it  is  the  result  of  exceptionably  good  form  and 
cartful  training.  He  who  can  so  train  a  horse,  may  get  a  long 
price  for  his  trouble  and  skill. 

XVI.    What  a  Horse  Should  Be. 

I  have  been  very  minute  in  stating  the  points  of  perfection  in 
a  horse,  and  have  been  particular  in  urging  that  the  lungs,  limbs 
and  feet  should  be  super-excellent.  From  one  of  the  best  authori- 
ties, I  quote  the  following  upon  the  physical  structure  of  the 
horse,  as  describing  ph\'sical  perfection  and  perfect  conformation. 

"The  points  of  the  physical  structure  of  a  horse  on  which  the 
jnost.  indeed  the  whole  of  his  utility  depends,  are  his  legs.  With- 
out his  locomotors  all  the  rest,  however  beautiful  it  maj  be,  is 
worth  nothing.  Therefore,  to  these  we  look  first.  The  fore- 
shoulder  should  be  long,  obliquely  set,  with  a  considerable  slope, 
high  in  the  withers  and  thin  above.  The  upper  arm  should  be 
very  long  and  muscular,  the  knee  broad,  flat  and  bony,  the  shank, 
or  cannon  bone,  as  short  as  inay  be,  flat,  not  round,  with  clean, 
firm  sinews  ;  the  pastern  joints  moderately  long  and  oblique,  but 
not  too  much  so,  as  the  excess  produces  springiness  and  weakness; 
the  hoofs  firm,  erect  or  deep,  as  opposed  to  flat,  and  the  feet  gen- 
erally large  and  round.  In  the  hind-legs  the  quarters  should  be 
large,  powerful,  broad  when  looked  at  in  profile,  and  square  and 
solid  from  behind.  The  hams  should  be  sickle-shaped,  n  )t  straight , 
and  well  let  down,  so  as  to  bring  the  hocks  well  toward  the  gi-ound. 
The  hocks  should  be  large  and  bony,  straight,  not  angular  and 
convexly  curved  in  their  posterior  outlines ;  the  shanks,  cor- 
responding to  the  cannon  bones,  short  and  flat,  and  the  hind  feet 
similar  in  form  to  the  front.     The  back  should  be  short  above, 


-73  — 

from  the  point  of  the  withers  and  sliou'uUr-blade,  Avhich  oug^t^ 
to  run  well  back  to  the  croup.     The  barrel  should  be  round,  are^ 
for  a  horse  in  which  strength  and  quickness  are  looked  to  more 
than  great  speed  and  stride,  closely  ribbed   up.     A  horse   can 
scarce]}'  be  too  deep  from  the  tip  of  his  shoulder  to  the  intersection 
of  his  fore-leg— which  is  called  the  heart-place — or  too  wide  in 
the  chest,  as  room  in  these  parts  gives  free  play  to  the  most  im- 
portant vitals.     The  form  of  the  neck  and  setting  on  of  the  head 
are  essential  not  only  to  the  beauty  of  the  animal,  but  to  the 
facility  and  pleasure  of  riding  or  driving  him ;  hence,  with  an  ill- 
shaped,  sliort,  stubborn  neck,  or  ill  set  on  head,  the  anima?  cannot 
by  any  possibility  be  a  pleasant-mouthed  horse,  or  an  easj  one  to 
manage.     The  neck  should  be  moderately  long,  convexly  arched 
above  from  the  shoulders  to  the  crest,  thin   where   it  joins   the 
head,  and  so  set  on  that  when  yielding  to  the  bit  it  forms  a  s-emi- 
circle,  like  a  bended   bow,  and  brings   the   chin   downward   and 
inward  until  it  nearly  touches  the  chest.     Horses  so  made  are 
always  manageable  to   the   hand.     The  converse   of  this  neck, 
which  is  concave  above  and  stuck  out  at  the  windpipe  like  a  cock's 
wattle,  is  the  worst  possible  form ;  and  horses  t  o  made   almost 
invariably  throw  up  their  heads  at  a  pull,  and  the   most   ex- 
ceptionable  of  brutes,  regular  star-gazers.      The  head  should  be 
rather  small,  bony,  not  beefy,  in  the  jowl ;  broad   between  the 
eyes,  and  rather  concave,  or  what  is   called  basin-faced,  than 
Eoman-nosed,  between  the  eyes  and  nostrils.     The  ears  should  be 
fine,  small  and  pointed  ;  the  eyes  large,  clear  and  prominent,  and 
the  nostrils  wide  and  well   opened.     A   horse   so   framed  cannot 
fail,  if  free  from  physical  defects,  constitutional  disease  and  vice, 
to  be  a  good  one  for  any  purpose — degree  of  strength,  lightness 
and.  speed  being  weighed  in  accordance   with   the  purpose   for 
which  he  is  desired." 

The  following  form  is  a  good  one  to  use  in  purchasing  a  horse  : 

Received (insert  place  and  date)   of  Mr (insert  name) 

Dollars, .for. . .  .(describe  horse  or  mare,  and  pedigree  of  same,  if  any) 

warranted years  old f state    age) sound,  free  from   vice^ 

and  quitt  to  ride  or  drive. 


-74  — 
"When  filled  out  this  might  read  as  follows : 

Received,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  ist,  iS8o,  of  Mr.  John  Doe,  five  .^undred 
dollars  for  a  bay  mare  by  Lancer,  dam  Lady,  zvarranted  Jive  years  old  and  under 
six  years,  sound,  free  from  vice,  and  quiet  to  ride  or  drive. 

Richard  Roe. 

This,  with  such  careful  examination  as  I  have  advised,  ought 
to  insure  any  buyer  against  dangCx*  in  case  the  seller  is  solvent. 


How  to  Feed,  Water  and  Groom. 


I.    Laying  the  Foundation. 

The  feeding  of  horses  must  be  either  simple  or  complex  ac- 
cording to  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  placed  ^nd 
the  nature  of  the  work  required  of  them.  It  would,  for  in- 
stance, be  as  foolish  with  the  farm  or  ordinary  work  horse  to 
pamper  with  fire-warmed  stables,  highly  stimulating  food,  and 
exquisite  grooming,  together  with  all  the  paraphernalia  of 
blankets,  hoods,  bandages  for  the  legs,  and  necessities  of  the 
trotting  or  racing  stable,  as  it  would  be  to  allow  this  latter  class 
to  receive  only  the  same  care  and  attention  usually  bestowed  up- 
on the  team  kept  solely  for  the  plow  and  other  drudgery  of  the 
farm.  At  the  same  time  the  extremes  to  which  horses  are  sub- 
ject, either  in  the  farm  or  racing  stables,  might  well  be  modified 
in  very  many  cases  to  the  health  and  well  being  either  of  the 
farm  horse  or  the  pampered  and  high-bred  racer.  That  is  to  say, 
racers  are  often  ''drawn  down '' to  fine,  and  the  ordinary  work 
horse  too  often  suffers  from  neglect.  Thus  in  the  first  class  we 
see  a  number  of  diseases  seldom  shown  in  the  stables  of  horses 
with  sufficient  care,  while  the  stables  of  horses  carefully  kept 
seldom  suffer  with  the  class  of  diseases  found  when  horses  are 
allowed  to  go  dirty  from  day  to  day,  and  often  from  Y/eek  to 
week. 

To  commence  at  the  beginning,  the  breeder  who  would  suc- 
ceed with  any  class  ot  horses,  should  see  that  the  mare,  while 
carrying  the  foal,  has  sufficient  food  and  shelter,  and  that  the 
foal  itself  is  sufficient  nourished  during  the  period  Oi  growth. 
N'othing  is  gained  by  insufficient  shelter  and  food,  whatever  the 
use  for  which  the  animal  is  intended,  and  this  brings  us  to  the 
question  of  the  food  itself. 


-ve- 
il.   What  to  Peed. 

In  the  W^est  the  feed  of  all  horses  of  whatever  class  is  oats, 
Indian  corn,  bran  and  hay.  Whatever  the  work  to  be  done, 
bran  shonld  always  be  kept,  since  a  horse  being  off  his  feed,  or 
slightly  ailing  from  any  cause  not  indicative  of  violent  disease, 
bran  mashes  with  good  nursing  will  bring  him  out  all  right  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten.  So,  in  the  Winter  when  horses  are  con- 
fined to  hard  f jod,  a  bran-mash  once  a  week  should  be  given. 
On  the  farm  there  is  nothing  better  than  an  occasional  feed  of 
roots— carrots,  Swedish  turnips,  or  mangel  wurtzel — being  valu- 
able in  the  order  named.  If  a  peck  of  these  could  be  given 
daily  as  an  evening  or  noonday  meal,  the  good  effects  of  this 
feeding  would  be  quickly  shown  For  the  mares  before  foaling 
time,  for  the  farm  or  draft  horse,  for  the  carriage  horses  of  the 
citizen,  and  even  for  the  fast  driven  roadster,  or  racer,  when  not 
being  driven  to  exhaustive  work,  these  will  be  found  valuable. 

The  foal  itself  shouhl  be  learned  to  eat  roots  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible, and  if  the  mare  takes  kindly  to  them  it  will  not  be  a  diffi. 
cult  matter  for  the  foal  to  learn  to  eat  them.  As  to  the  other 
food  of  the  3^oung  colt  or  filh^  oats  alone  with  grass  or  hay,  ac- 
cording to  the  season,  should  be  allowed.  In  the  Winter,  half 
oats  and  half  corn  may  be  given  with  benefit,  unless  the  young 
things  are  intended  for  racing  or  trotting,  and  are  kept  in  warm 
stables;  then  Indian  corn  would  not  be  desirable,  as  being  too 
heating  under  the  circumstances. 

For  the  ordinary  farm  team,  or  other  horses  of  slow  work,  In- 
dian corn  may  be  the  main  dependence  in  Winter,  in  connection 
with  good  hay ;  especially  so  if  a  few  roots  can  be  allowed  as  a 
portion  of  the  daily  provender.  For  fast  working  horses,  sound 
oats  and  hay  will  be  the  pi-iciple  dependence,  but  in  the  Winter 
I  have  always  given  one- third  of  the  weight  of  the  daily  grain 
ration  in  Indian  corn,  and  we  have  always  thought,  with  decided 

benefit. 

Ill     When  to  Feed. 

The  importance  of  strict  regularit}'  in  feeding  is  underesti- 
mated by  nine-tenths  of  the  ordinar}^  feeders,  and  by  fully  one- 
half  of  the  stablemen  having  the  care  of  well  bred  horses,     The 


^77- 

horse,  for  whatever  purpose  he  is  used,  if  actively  employed, 
should  not  get  less  than  three  feeds  a  da}^  besides  the  hay  he 
eats  during  the  night.  All  fast  working  horses  should  have 
luur  feeds  a  day.  The  hours  of  feeding  are  of  prime  imj^ort- 
ance.  These  should  be,  as  closely  as  possible,  at  six  in  the 
morning,  at  noon,  and  at  six  at  night,  except  at  those  press- 
ing Sv^'asons  of  extra  labor,  when  the  morning  feed  ma}^  be  an 
hour  earlier  and  the  evening  feed  an  hour  latter.  In  this  case, 
however,  nose-bags  should  be  carried  to  the  field,  or  they  should 
be  turned  to  the  wagon  at  10  a.  m.  and  at  4  p.  m.  to  take  one-third 
their  usual  allowance,  as  given  morning  and  evening,  which 
meals,  as  a  rule,  should  be  rather  more  than  the  noonday  feed. 
AY  hen  corn  is  the  main  dependence  as  feed  these  lunches  should 
be  of  oats,  and  if  bruised  so  much  the  better. 

Fast  working  horses  should  receive  their  food  four  tinies  a 
day,  at  six  in  the  morning,  at  ten,  at  two,  and  at  nine  at  night. 
Carriage  horses  should  be  feed  the  same  number  of  times,  the 
first  feed  being  at  six,  and  the  last  after  their  real  work  for  the 
day  is  done,  say  at  nine  at  night,  since  simply  going  to  some 
place  of  amusement  at  eleven  o'clock  or  later  can  hardl^^  be 
called  work.  The  mid-morning  and  afternoon  meals  will  depend 
upon  the  hours  at  which  they  are  generally  used,  9  a.  m.  and  1 
p.  M.  begin  the  usual  times  for  feeding. 

IV.    Watering. 

Watering  and  the  water  used  is  of  fully  as  much  importance  as 
the  feeding.  A  horse  is  i)articular  as  to  the  water  he  drinks, 
but  yet  may  be  accustomed  to  any  water  without  detriment  if  it 
be  fit  for  human  use.  The  water  of  large  lakes,  rivers  and  run- 
ning brooks  is  best  and  in  the  order  named.  That  of  ponds 
without  outlet  or  inlet  the  worst ;  in  fact  pond  water  should 
never  be  used ;  well  water  is  altogether  better  and  may  be  given 
without  fear,  when  used  constantl}^,  but  as  with  man,  the  horse 
accustomed  to  lake  or  river  water,  which  is  always  partially 
soft,  should  be  given  well  water,  when  necessity  requires,  with 
care  and  only  in  small  quanties,  the  change  being  gradually 
made.     Water  should  always   be   offered    before  feeding,   and 


-78- 

never  given  in  large  drafts  immediately  after  feeding ;  two  to 
four  quarts  may  be  given  with  benefit  immediately  after  dry 
feed,  to  properly  moisten  the  stomach,  and  it  may  be  freely  given 
in  two  or  three  hours  aft3r  feeding.  When  driving,  water  should 
be  offered,  especially  in  hot  weather  at  every  stop,  but  oniy  a  few 
quarts  should  be  taken  at  a  time,  for  a  heated  horse,  like  a  heated 
man,  will  take  more  than  is  good  for  him.  Upon  stopping, 
wash  the  horse's  mouth  with  a  sponge  soaked  in  water,  and  let 
him  swallow  each  time  two  or  three  light  sips,  just  enough  to 
moisten  the  throat,  and  upon  starting,  give  him  four  to  six 
quarts  each  as  the  occasion  seems  to  demand.  Under  no  circum- 
stance allow  a  heated  horse  to  drink  heartily.  Farm  teams  and 
slow  draft  horses,  at  ordinary  labor,  maj"  be  allowed  what  they 
will  naturallv  drink,  but  when  heated  the  same  rule  must  be  ob- 
served  as  with  hard  driven  horses.  With  these  simple  rules 
kept  in  view  any  intelligent  owner  or  driver  may  keep  his  team 
fresh  and  without  danger. 

V.    Kinds  and  Quantities  of  Food  to  be  Given. 

I  have  alread}^  spoken  of  the  proper  food  to  be  given  under 
ordinary  circumstances;  they  are  sound,  whole  grain,  and 
bright,  clean  hay.  Certain  classes  of  horses,  as  omnibus  horses, 
stage  horses,  car  horses,  and  the  draft  horses  of  large  mercantile 
firms  in  cities,  are  generall}'  fed  ground  feed  and  cut  hay.  When 
the  hours  of  feeding  and  rest  may  be  estimated  with  accurac}^, 
this  is  on  the  whole  as  conducive  to  the  health  of  the  animal 
as  may  be,  when  the  econom}^  of  such  feeding  is  considered^ 
especially  when  we  remember  that  in  large  cities  a  regular  veteri- 
nar}^  surgeon  is  employed,  who  visits  the  stables  regular!}^  to 
look  after  the  well-being  of  the  horses,  and  also  where  the  sup- 
erintendents and  foremen  are  supposed  to  be  experts. 

On  the  farm,  and  in  the  stables  of  road-driving  horsemen,  and 
where  carriage  horses  are  kept,  cut  feed  may  very  properly  and 
economically  form  from  one-third  to  one-half  of  the  daily  food 
given.  When  only  one  feed  is  given  it  shoald  be  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  when  two  are  given,  they  should  be  the  morning  and 
evening  feeds. 


-79- 

As  to  the  quantity  to  be  given,  no  definite  ]  ulc  can  be  laid 
down.  The  horse  must  have  a  quantity  fully  sullicient  to  keep 
him  well  up  to  his  work.  Hard  working  horses  may,  if  rcg 
ularly  fed,  have  what  grain  and  hay  they  will  eat  clean,  and  in 
this  case  there  is  no  better  judge  than  the  animal  itself,  except  in 
the  case  of  ravenous  gluttons,  sometimes  found  among  horses 
as  in  the  human  famil3\  Elaborate  rules  have  been  laid  down 
by  theorists,  including  a  per  cent  of  grain  according  to  the 
weight  of  the  animal.  In  practice  they  will  not  work,  since  the 
labor,  condition  of  the  animal,  temperature  of  the  season,  and  of 
stables  must  be  considered.  In  the  large  omnibus  stables  where 
all  the  work  is  to  be  got  out  of  horses  that  they  can  endure,  from 
ten  to  fourteen  pounds  of  cut  hay  per  day  are  given,  with  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  pounds  of  corn  meal.  Mix  into  provender,  and 
on  it  they  will  go  from  eighteen  to  twenty  miles  each  day.  With 
this  about  three  pounds  of  salt  may  be  allowed  each  month.  Some 
stablemen  do  not  feed  more  than  one  pound,  arguing  that  a  large 
quantity  produces  profuse  staling;  others  feed  up  to  four.  In 
times  of  extra  severe  labor  the  cornmeal  is  increased  by  about 
three  pounds.  It  would  be  better  if  the  three  pounds  of  meal 
were  omitted  and  one  extra  feed  of  six  quarts  of  whole  oats  be 
substituted,  and  given  dail}^  The  average  livery  horse  may  be 
kept  in  good  condition  on  twelve  pounds  of  hay  and  eight  pounds 
of  cornmeal  dail}^  to  be  given  at  two  feeds  wdth  the  addition  of 
six  quarts  of  oats  at  noon,  eight  pounds  of  hay  to  be  fed  cut, 
with  the  meal,  and  four  pounds  from  the  m^anger.  This  same 
feed  would  do  for  ordinary  farm  horses  at  usual  w^ork,  or  if  the 
grain  is  fed  whole,  five  quarts  of  shelled  corn,  or  its  equivalent 
in  ears,  and  six  quarts  of  oats,  with  what  hay  will  be  eaten 
should  keep  the  animal  in  working  condition. 

VI.    How  to  Prepare  the  Pood. 

In  preparing  chopped  feed,  half  the  hay  to  be  used,  or  clean, 
bright,  long  straw  cut  into  about  three-quarters  to  one  inch 
lengths,  should  be  put  into  the  mixing  trough  half  an  hour  before 
it  is  to  b  ^  mixed,  and  thoroughly  moistened.  On  this  throw  the 
meal,  mill-feed,  or  whatever  article  is  to  be  used,  and  moisten  it. 


—  so- 
Then  cover  with  sufficient  ha^^  to  make  the  mess  for  the  desired 
number  of  horses,  weighing  both  hay  and  meal.  Let  it  stand 
until  feeding  time,  when  the  whole  should  be  worked  over  and 
over  until  thoroughly  mixed.  If  salt  is  given  with  the  mess,  put 
in  the  required  quantity  for  each  horse,  from  one-quarter  to  half 
an  ounce  per  horse  each  feed.  Many  stablemen  mix  the  mess  half 
a  day  in  advance,  but  this  we  do  not  like.  Horses,  like  men,  like 
their  food  fresh.  An  iron  box  is  best  for  mixing,  and  it  should  bo 
thoroughly  cleaned  after  each  meal. 

VII.    How  to  Make  Mashes,  Gruel  and  Hay-toa. 

The  ordinary  sweet  mash,  as  usually  made,  is  to  take  four 
quarts  of  good  bran,  moisten  it  gradually  with  hot  water,  and 
then  mix  with  what  boiling  water  will  bring  it  up  to  the  proper 
consistency  for  eating,  covering  it  with  a  cloth  and  feeding  either 
warm  or  cold  as  the  animal  will  eat  it.  What  salt  will  lie  on  a 
quarter  dollar  may  or  may  not  be  mixed  with  it. 

A  better  mash,  especially  for  dry  fed  horses,  is  to  boil  two 
quarts  of  oats  and  a  pint  of  linseed,  for  each  horse,  for  about 
three  hours,  and  then  mix  with  it  sufficient  bran  to  bring  it  to  a 
proper  consistency.  Cover  with  a  cloth  and  feed  cold.  Such  a 
mash  given  once  a  week,  if  the  horses  are  on  average  feed,  will 
keep  their  bowels  in  condition.  If  off  their  feed,  add  a  little  salt, 
and  a  half  pint  of  molasses. 

Gruel  is  one  of  the  best  possible  things  for  a  beaten  out  horse. 
Stir  graduallj^  in  a  gallon  of  water,  a  pint  or  a  quart  of  oat-meal, 
or  lialf  flour  and  half  corn-meal,  according  as  the  horse  likes  it 
thick  or  thin,  and  fill  up  the  pail  with  cold  water.  If  the  horse 
liesitates  about  drinking  it,  give  him  first  a  mouthful  of  water. 
If  he  be  very  tired  a  quart  of  sound  ale  will  do  him  good,  but 
under  no  circumstances,  when  exhausted,  should  he  be  given  a  feed 
either  of  grain  or  hay.  If  the  horse  will  take  nothing  else,  turn 
down  a  bottle  of  sound  ale,  rub  him  until  dry  and  refreshed,  and 
then  feed. 

Hay  tea  is  also  a  good  stimulant.  To  make  it — fill  a  bucket 
three-quarters  full  of  bright,  clean  hay,  pour  over  it  enough  boil- 


-Sl- 
ing water  to  fill  the  pail,  and  cover  tight,  to  keep  in  the  steam. 
Press  the  hay  down  occasionally,  let  it  stand  fifteen  minutes,  turn 
off,  and  add  water  enough  to  make  a  bucket  three-quarters  full. 
Give  to  the  horse  when  the  liquid  is  cool  enough  to  drink. 

VIII.    The  Value  of  Hay  and  Straw. 

In  the  feeding  of  horses  the  principal  use  of  hay  is  to  distend 
the  stomach.  For  this  reason  lean  horses,  and  those  just  off  the 
pasture  on  coarse  feed,  require  more  than  those  which  are  reg- 
ularly stabled  and  groomed.  The  change  to  grain  must  not  be 
too  sudden,  else  indigestion  is  apt  to  set  in.  Once  a  horse  is  used 
to  full  rations  of  grain,  if  oats  are  used,  or  corn  meal  and  bran, 
he  may  get  along  daily  with  fi'om  six  to  eight  pounds  of  hay  a 
day.  The  hay,  however,  must  be  of  the  very  best,  bright,  clean 
and  free  from  dust.  There  is  no  economy  in  feeding  bad  hay. 
It  is  the  cause  of  heaves,  broken  wind  and  other  diseases  pro- 
duced by  indigestion.  Good  clean  straw  is  altogether  better  than 
poor  hay.  Straw  is  altogether  the  best  material  for  bedding,  and 
should  always  be  used  when  it  can  be  had.  In  the  West  it  is 
plenty,  and  yet  not  one  farmer  in  ten  uses  it  for  bedding  in  suf- 
ficient quantity,  or  renews  it  often  enough. 

IX.    Feeding  Grain. 

The  most  economical  way  of  feeding  grain  is  in  its  whole  state. 
Oats  and  corn  should  be  shaken  in.  a  sieve  with  a  mesh  so  small 
that  it  will  not  go  through,  all  dust  and  light  matter  blown  away, 
and  all  stones,  bits  of  iron  or  wire,  carefully  picked  out.  It  will 
pay  to  do  this.  In  feeding  corn  allow  one-half  the  measure  of 
shelled  corn  that  would  be  deemed  sufficient  of  oats,  since  corn 
weighs  about  double  that  of  oats.  If  corn  in  the  ear  is  fed,  one- 
third  more  b}'^  measure  heaped  should  be  allowed  than  when 
shelled  grain  is  used. 

Some  horses  eat  their  grain  better  for  being  moistened.  Horses 
with  bad  teeth  always  bolt  their  food  whole.  All  such  horses, 
and  also  aged  ones,  should  be  fed  cut  hay  and  ground  feed. 


-82- 
X.    Stable  Care  and  Training. 

The  importance  of  steadiness  and  care  in  the  management  of 
the  stable  and  in  the  cleaning  of  horses  cannot  be  over-estinuited. 
A  brntal  stableman,  or  one  which  a  horse  fears,  shonld  he  im- 
mediately discharged.  There  is  indeed  now  and  then  a  horse 
that  requires  to  be  kept  in  terror.  These  of  course  are  exceptions. 
The  competent  stable-man  should  use  neither  fear  nor  brutality. 

Many  stable-men  imagine  the  curry  comb  is  an  instrument  for 
cleaning  the  legs  and  body  of  the  horse.  It  is  an  instrument  for 
cleaning  the  brush  and  for  loosening  the  scurf  on  the  fleshy  -  not 
bony — parts  of  the  body.  In  using  the  curry  comb,  do  so  lightly, 
carrying  it  in  circles  rather  than  in  straight  lines.  Use  a  wisp  of 
hay  for  rubbing  the  dust  from  the  legs,  and  something  like  a  corn 
cob  for  the  fetlock?,  finishing  with  the  brush.  In  brushing,  do  so 
thoroughly,  Vvith  firm,  long  strokes,  where  possible,  being  careful 
in  working  about  the  head  and  bony  parts.  Clean  the  brush 
often  by  passing  it  over  the  teeth  of  the  curry  comb.  T^hen  the 
scurf  and  dust  are  thoroughly  cleaned  out.  go  over  the  horse  with 
a  damp  wisp  of  hay,  and  finish  with  dry  cloths,  being  particular 
to  get  any  particles  of  dirt  out  of  the  fetlocks,  the  ears,  about  the 
head,  next  the  tail,  below  the  thighs,  under  the  jaws,  and  between 
the  fore-legs.  Ahorse  thus  cleaned,  whether  he  belongs  to  the  farm 
or  the  city  stable  will  not  occasion  shame  on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

It  is  a  question  among  horsemen,  whether  when  a  team  comes 
in  wet  and  muddy  at  night,  it  is  proper  to  wash  them.  AVe 
have  never  found  advantage  in  so  doing.  Clothe  them  wainily, 
bandage  the  legs  loosely,  and  when  dry,  clean  them,  at  least  so 
far  as  removing  the  dirt,  and  getting  up  a  glow  at  the  surface 
is  concerned.  Thus  handled,  horses  will  seldom  be  found  liable 
to  surfeit,  scratclies,  grease,  and  other  diseases  induced  by 
checking  the  natural  perspiration. 

XI.    The  Time  to  Clean. 

Clean  when  the  horse  is  dirty.  Always  once  a  day  when  the 
horse  is  kept  in  the  stable.  Horses  th^t  run  in  the  fields  in 
Summer,  or  in  the  shed  yard   in   Winter  require   no  cleaning. 


-83  — 

Before  work  horses  are  littered  down  for  the  night  they  should 
be  again  thoroughly  cleaned  if  necessary. 

AVhenever  the  horse  comes  into  the  stable  from  the  plow  or 
wagon,  for  the  day,  he  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  ivhen  dry 
enough,  and  if  sweating  or  otherwise  wet  should  be  thoroughly 
scraped  at  once.  The  scraper  is  a  thin,  flexible  piece  of  wood  ; 
a  section  of  barrel  hoop  makes  a  good  one. 

XII.    Care  of  the  Feet. 

The  feet  are  half  the  horse,  in  fact  a  horse  with  bad  feet,  is  as 
near  a  worthless  animal  as  possible.  Attention  to  the  feet  is 
therefore  of  the  first  importance.  In  this  connection  shoeino-  is 
to  be  attended  to.  Know  that  the  blacksmith  understands  his 
business.  The  horse's  foot  should  be  a  study,  and  every  horse- 
man should  understand  the  anatomy  of  the  foot.  When  tlie 
horse  is  brought  in  from  work,  each  foot  should  be  lifted,  cleaned, 
and  examined  with  the  picker  to  see  that  no  gravel  or  otlier 
hard  substance  has  found  lodgment  between  tlie  shoe  and  hoof, 
or  about  the  frog.  Examine  the  frog  to  see  that  no  substance 
is  wedged  therein,  and  that  no  nail  oi-  other  sharp  object  has 
pierced  the  sole.  If  the  hoofs  are  inclined  to  be  hard  and 
dry,  fill  them  with  a  mixture  of  cow-dung  and  clay,  or  with 
oakum  saturated  with  tar  and  petroleum.  Watch  them  for 
contraction  of  the  hoof,  caused  by  allowing  the  shoe  to  remain 
on  too  long,  or  from  bad  shoeing.  If  the  frog  gets  torn  and 
ragged,  cut  the  ragged  edges  but  leave  the  frog  intact.  If  the 
hoof  be  found  pierced  with  a  nail,  and  you  are  not  perfectly 
sure  you  have  pulled  out  every  bit,  cut  it  out  at  whatever  labor 
it  may  be  to  you,  or  pain  to  the  animal.  Then  dress  the  wound 
with  tow  saturated  with  tar.  If  the  hoofs  are  inclined  to  be  hard 
and  brittle,  oil  them  occasionally,  or  let  the  horse  stand,  say  for 
an  hour  or  two,  or  for  a  half  a  da}^  on  Sunday,  in  a  box-stall  of 
soft  clay  and  cow-manure,  coming  pretty  well  up  the  hoofs. 

XIII.    Blanketing— When  Necessary. 

A  blanket  is  always  necessary  when  a  horse  is  standing  in  the 
stable  in  Winter.  A  light  sheet  is  about  as  necessary  in  Summer, 
during  fly  time     A  blanket  should  always  be  thrown  over  the 


—  84  — 

horse  in  cold  weather,  or  even  in  the  cool  weather  of  Spring  and 
Autumn,  when  standing  after  being  driven.  A  horse  should 
alwa3^s  be  blanketed  when  standing  in  a  draft,  or  in  the  rain, 
using  a  cloth  or  rubber  blanket  as  the  case  may  be.  In  blanket- 
ing a  horse,  see  that  the  blanket  is  sufficiently  large  to  cover  the 
animal  from  the  neck  to  the  tail,  see  also  that  the  breast  flaps 
arj  sufficient  to  protect  this  sensitive  part,  and  that  the  blanket 
is  large  enough  to  cover  the  sides  and  flank  fully.  If  not  do  not 
buy  it  at  any  price. 

XIV.    Proper  Tools  for  the  Stable. 

The  tools  necessary  for  cleaning  ahorse  properly  may  be  very 
few  or  many.  As  a  rule  any  horse  may  be  properly  cleaned 
with  a  scraper,  a  curry  comb,  a  brush,  a  sponge,  a  comb,  a  wisp 
of  straw,  and  a  rubbing  cloth  Horse  pails  both  for  washing  the 
horse  and  for  watering  are  indispensable  to  any  stable  but  never 
use  one  for  the  other.  These  should  be  of  oak,  half  an  inch 
thick,  and  with  strong  iron  bails,  and  to  hold  fourteen  quarts. 
Every  stable  should  have  two  manure  forks,  one  of  steel  and  one 
of  wood,  splint  broom,  a  scoop  shovel,  and  a  wheel-barrow. 


Breeding  and  Raising  Horses. 


I.    Importance  of  the  Subject. 

No  subject  connected  with  the  rearing  and  use  of  stoclc  can  be 
of  more  importance  to  tlie  farmer  and  stock -grower,  tlie  intelli- 
gent, practical  business  man,  than  that  of  breeding.  That  it  is 
in  every  way  more  profitable  to  any  one  who  rears  and  trains  a 
single  colt  to  have  that  colt  of  the  very  best  rather  than  of  any 
indiiferent  quality  is  almost  too  palpable  to  need  a  moment's  con- 
sideration. That  it  is  possible  for  ever}^  man  of  observation  and 
good  judgment  to  improve  his  stock  is  equally  obvious.  There 
is  no  line  of  work  which  horses  are  called  upon  to  perform  that 
has  Eot  its  peculiar  requirements,  that  can  be  better  met  by  some 
specific  kind  of  animal  than  by  one  chosen  at  haphazard.  It  is  a 
matter,  then,  of  the  plainest  common  sense  that  every  one  who 
means  to  rear  a  horse  for  his  own  use  should  consider  before- 
hand to  what  purposes  he  will  most  probably  devote  it.  If  it  is 
designed  for  market,  he  needs  no  less  to  consult  his  interests  by 
determining  what  markets  are  accessible  to  him,  and  what  de- 
scription of  animal  will  be  apt  to  find  most  ready  sale  therein, 
at  most  remunerative  prices. 

For  the  farmer  wdio  wants  to  breed  and  rear  horses  of  all 
w^ork,  it  would  be  manifestly  foolish  to  seek  a  high-priced  pure- 
blooded  race,  for  his  mares,  unless  the  mares  themselves  were 
of  such  type  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  breed  to  high  and  ele- 
gant stallions  in  order  to  obtain  thoso  medium-sized,  but  com- 
pact, and  moderately  quick-paced  animals  that  are  so  well 
adapted  to  all  the  wants  of  the  farmer. 

On  the  other  hand,  one  wanting  a  light  and  fleet  animal 
would  show  his  lack  of  judgment  in  a  striking  manner  who 
should  so  disregard  all  the  dictates  of  sound  sense  as  to  hope  to 
succeed  b}^  an^^  chance  selection  of  either  mares  or  stallions. 


—  86  — 

The  Best  Stock  the  Cheapest. 

It  may  be  laid  down  as  the  first  rule — a  foundation  principle — 
i\i2it  the  very  hed  and  purest  stock  that  is  really  adapted  to  the  end  in 
view  shoidd  besought  after. 

It  costs  even  less  to  feed  a  horse  of  good  blood  and  lineage  than 
it  does  to  maintain  a  scrub  ;  it  costs  no  more  to  shelter  him ;  it 
costs  less  to  groom  him  and  keep  him  in  condition  than  it  does 
to  keep  the  scrub  from  looking  like  a  scare-crow  ;  his  movement 
is  almost  invariably  smoother  and  steadier  for  the  same  rates  of 
speed  ;  his  temper  is  generally  better ;  his  pluck  and  energy  not 
less  so  ;  and  if  it  is  found  necessar}^  to  put  him  upon  the  market, 
he  brings  a  better  price.  The  service  of  a  stallion  knowm  to  be 
of  good,  generous  blood,  and  possessing  adequate  powers  of 
transmission,  must  of  course  cost  more ;  there  must  be  a  dam 
adapted  to  the  obtaining  of  a  foal  of  the  best  type  possible  from 
such  a  sire  ;  but  thepennj'-wise,  pound-foolish  policy  of  refusing 
to  avail  one's  self  of  these  advantages,  when  in  the  bounds  of 
possibility,  is  too  apparent. 

Taking  it  for  granted,  then,  that  the  best,  in  this  case,  is 
always  the  cheapest— that  the  finer  and  purer  the  horse  can  be, 
other  things  being  equal,  the  more  useful,  more  easily  maintained 
and  more  marketable  lie  is  bound  to  be,  it  remains  to  consider 
some  points  that  must  always  be  regarded  by  the  intelligent 
breeder,  who  seeks  wisely  to  adapt  means  to  ends  rather  than 
trust  to  chance. 

III.    Hereditary  Tendencies  and  Immaturity  to  be 

guarded  Against. 

A  caution  most  needful  to  be  insisted  upon  at  the  outset  is  that 
relating  to  the  transmission  of  tendencies  to  disease  and  of  actual 
disease  itself.  It  seems  that  no  man  in  his  right  senses,  know- 
ing the  results  to  the  human  family  when  this  consideration  is 
disregarded,  would  think  for  a  moment  of  utterly  ignoring  the 
possibilities  of  evil  consequences ;  but  ordinary  observation  leads 
to  the  disclosure  of  the  fact  that  among  horses  diseases  and  im- 
paired constitutional  powers  are  often  transmitted  in  this  way. 


^87  — 

Mares  at  an  advanced  age,  too  stiff,  too  weak,  too  slow  to 
be  of  any  furtlier  active  use,  are  turned  to  account  for  breeding 
purposes — and  the  result  is,  a  weak  foal,  lacking  thrift  and  lack- 
ing spirit.  Mares  hacked  about  until  tluy  are  ring-boned,  spav- 
ined, and  splinted,  or  perhaps  dropsical  or  with  a  glanderous 
tendency, — no  longer  useful  on  the  farm  or  on  the  road,  are  re- 
lieved from  the  work  which  they  can  no  longer  do  with  any 
chance  of  profit,  and  sent  to  the  stallion.  Result :  a  foal  with  a 
rickety  or  knotty  bony  system,  or  with  a  tendency  to  some 
form  of  dropsy,  or  ready,  in  the  presence  of  any  exciting  cause, 
to  develop  a  case  of  glanders.  And  so  of  other  disorders,  more 
especiall}^  of  roaring,  thick-wind,  blindness,  contracted  feet, 
grease  and  afflictions  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system.  Some 
mares  have  a  peculiar  predisposition  to  surfeit,  some  to  swelled 
legs,  some  to  vertigo,  some  to  a  sort  of  unaccountable  vicious- 
ness.  No  wise  breeder  can  afford  to  disregard  these  things.  If 
he  wishes  to  rear  a  horse  for  service,  he  Avants  a  sound  foal ;  for 
he  knows  he  can  get  from  such  a  one  more  work  for  less  cost  than 
from  one  unsound  in  bone,  muscle,  secretions  or  integument.  If 
he  designs  to  breed  for  market  he  is  aware  that  neither  a  puny 
nor  a  diseased  creature  can  be  palmed  off  there  either  to  his 
profit  or  his  credit. 

To  insure  health}^,  active,  thrifty  progeny,  then,  the  dam  must 
be  soumd  and  vlgorovs ;  and  this  is  no  less  true  of  the  sire.  We 
dwell  less  upon  the  latter  because  it  is  of  far  less  frequent  occur- 
rence for  a  broken  down  and  diseased  stallion  to  be  kept  for  the 
service  of  mares  than  for  mares  of  this  description  to  be  put 
to  breeding  because  they  are  known  to  be  fit  for  nothing  else, 
but  are  erroneously  deemed  useful  for  this.  The  condition  of  the 
stallion,  however,  must  not  be  overlooked.  Every  breeder  must 
have  a  care  to  choose  a  vigorous  stallion,  and  one  free  from 
blemishes,  malformation  and  hereditar^^  taints. 

Nor  should  mares  be  put  to  breeding  too  young.  They  should 
be  full  grown  and  vigorous,  and  when  their  powers  begin  to  fail 
they  should  no  longer  be  subjected  to  this  service.  It  is  the 
practice  of  some  to  begin  to  breed  at  two  years  of  age.  This  is 
injurious  to  the  mare,  and  otherwise  unprofitable  to  the  owner. 


—  88  — 

The  growth  of  the  mare  is  hindered  ;  her  form  is  modified  both 
bs^  tiie  weight  of  the  stallion  and  by  carrying  the  foal.  And  the 
foal  itself  is  apt  to  lack  fullness  and  power.  Yet,  it  takes  from 
the  young  mother  that  sustenance  which  she  needs  for  her  own 
development,  so  that  she  is  dwarfed,  while  it  grows  up  a  more  or 
less  puny  creature — of  insufiicient  value  to  compensate  for  the 
injury  done  to  the  dam.  ^N'o  mare  should  be  so  used  till  she  is  at 
least  three  j^ears  old — four  w^ould  be  the  better  and  more  profit- 
able age.  It  is  said  that  mares  which  are  allowed  to  mature,  and 
are  well  treated  afterwards,  will  not  lose  enough  of  their  natural 
vigor  to  disqualify  them  for  bringing  forth  good  foals  till  after 
they  are  twi  nt}^  years  old  ;  but  it  is  idle  to  expect  good  strong, 
well  formed,  thrifty,  and  spirited  offspring  from  a  mare  that  is 
either  too  young  or  too  old ;  or  that  is  subjected,  even  in  matur- 
ity, to  hard  work,  poor  and  insufficient  food,  and  cruel  handling. 

IV.    Principles  of  TransniissioD. 

Let  us  next  notice  this  principle,  that  when  the  dam  and  the  sire 
hoth  J! assess  a  due  amount  of  vigor,  the  foal  will  combine  in  itself  the  most 
marked  characteristics  of  both,  ichile  any  quality  that  is  pecidiar  to  either 
of  them  is  apt  to  be  prominent  in  the  offspring.  This  applies  to  both 
disposition  and  physical  conformation. 

It  will  be  seen  fi^om  this  statement  that  no  matter  what  the 
general  line  of  policy  to  be  pursued  by  the  breeder  ;  that  of 
in-and-in,  or  that  of  crossing,  he  must  select  his  stallions  and 
mares  with  the  view  to  having  one  supplement  the  other.  If  the 
mare  is  deficient  in  any  point,  the  horse  should  be  full  or  pre- 
dominant there,  and  vice  versa;  and  if  any  peculiar  trait  is  desired, 
that  should  be  very  strongly  developed  in  either  sire  or  dam, 
while  merely  nominal  in  the  other. 

Another  special  point  to  be  considered  is  this :  that  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a  full-formed,  symmetrical,  vigorous,  and  thrifty  foal, 
the  mare  should  be  proportionately  larger  than  the  horse.  An  overgrown 
stallion,  of  great  power,  serving  a  mare  of  diminutive  size,  or  of 
size  somewhat  less  in  proportion  than  his  own,  will  beget  her  a 
strong  embryo  that  will  require  more  room  and  more  nourish- 
ment than  the  mare  can  afford  ;  and  the  result  must  be  weakness^ 


—  89- 

and,  probably,  deformity — almost  inevitably  diminutive  size. 
Men's  minds  were  particularly  called  to  this  fact  in  Great  Britian 
when,  during  a  course  of  years,  the  farmers  of  Yorkshire  thought 
that  by  breeding  their  mares  to  the  very  largest  stallions  they 
could  find,  and  without  regard  to  the  size  of  the  mare,  they  could 
meet  the  demand  in  London  for  great  overgrown  horses,  whic-h 
it  was  then  the  fashion  to  drive  in  coaches  and  other  heavy 
carriages.     The  result  was  a  race  of  almost  v/orthless  creatures. 

In  other  points  than  mere  size,  more  depends  upon  the  select  ion 
of  the  mare  than  that  of  the  horse.  The  great  majority  are  mares 
bred  after  their  own  stock  unless  the  stallion  is  so  powerful  as  to 
neutralize  or  overcome  this  physiological  peculiarity  ;  so  that  it 
is  necessarj'  for  her  to  be  of  good  lineage  if  the  best  results  are 
wanted.  If  she  has  come  from  diseased,  vicious,  or  in  any  way 
evil  ancestr}^,  though  she  may  be  free  from  perceptible  taint,  the 
bad  points  of  her  stock  will  very  probably  appear  in  her  offspring. 
This  principle  makes  it  necessary  to  have  a  regard  for  her  color 
and  for  the  color  that  is  know^n  to  have  been  prevalent  in  her  line, 
since  any  dirty,  vari-tinted,  and  otherwise  disagreeable  colors 
may  appear  in  a  foal  of  hers  if  her  progenitors  have  had  such  a  hue. 

V.    The  Two  Methods,  "In-and-in"  and  "Cross" 
Breeding  Considered. 

As  for  the  two  leading  methods  of  breeding,  circumstances 
generally  determine  which  the  farmer  or  other  breeder  on  a 
moderate  scale  is  to  adopt.  He  is  now  almost  alwa^'S  under  the 
absolute  necessity  of  crossing ;  and  the  main  point  with  him  is, 
how  to  cross,  in  order  to  secure  the  best  results.  The  main  direc- 
tions are  already  laid  down,  wdth  sufficient  minuteness  to  enable 
anyone  of  ordinary  intelligence  to  judge  as  to  the  best  means. 
One  point  must  not  be  overlooked,  that  really  to  improve  the 
stock  of  horses  as  to  blood— to  obtain  a  strain  that  has  the  power 
of  transmitting  itself,  and  of  so  continuing  in  a  steady  line  of 
improvement,  recourse  must  be  had  to  pure  blooded  horses. 
The  English  racer  or  thoroughbred  is  almost  our  sole  reliance  in 
this  respect :  although  an  Arab  may  occasionally  be  found.     The 


—  90  — 

true  I^orman  Percheron  is  endowed  with  this  characteristic  of 
pure-blooded  horses— he  has  great  powers  of  impressing  himself 
upon  his  offspring,  and  perpetuating  the  strain ;  but  he  is  too 
heavy  for  the  ordinary  run  of  mares  in  this  country,  and  if  heavy 
draft  stock  rather  than  the  lighter  horse  of  all  work  is  wanted, 
the  Percheron  mare  should  also  be  used— or  some  other  of  equal 
length  and  weight.  Good  mares  of  the  common  mixed  breeds  in 
the  United  States,  bred  to  the  light  Arab,  Barb,  or  thorough-bred 
stallions,  will  almost  invariably  produce  foals  partaking  of  their 
own  size  and  strength,  and  of  the  finer  forms,  activity,  and  wind 
of  the  stallion.  It  is  difficult  to  l?ij  down  an}^  specific  rule  for 
crossing..  The  whole  matter  must  be  left  to  the  good  sense  of  the 
breeder,  after  the  general  statement  of  principles  set  forth.  If 
the  breeder  has  in  view  a  mere  racer,  and  is  unable  to  obtain 
both  thorough  bred  mare  and  stallion,  let  him  seek  the  racing 
stallion,  at  least,  and  one  that  will,  as  previously  directed,  sup- 
plement his  mare— suppljT"  the  points  in  which  she  is  wanting  for 
that  specific  purpose.  If  he  wishes  a  trotter,  the  same  care  must 
be  observed.  'J  rotting  horses  are  of  late  days  in  great  demand 
throughout  the  United  States. 

'^  Gold  Dust,"  was  a  Kentucky  horse,  foaled  near  Lexington,  the 
pr  »perty  of  L.  L.  Dorsey,  a  few  years  prior  to  the  civil  war. 
He  was  mixed  blooded,  having  been  sired  by  Vermont  Morgan, 
a  great  trotter,  while  his  dam  had  in  her  both  Arabian  and 
thoroughbred  blood. 

It  is  worth}^  of  consideration  on  the  part  of  the  breeder  that 
the  colts  of  '•'  Gold  Dust "  showed  stronger  marks  of  their 
Arabian  and  English  ancestr^^,  which  came  by  his  dam's  side, 
than  of  the  Morgan,  his  sire,  so  superior  is  the  pure  blooded  horse 
as  a  transmitter  of  his  own  qualities,  and  an  improver  of  breed, 
''  Gold  Dust  "  is  worth}^  of  study.  He  was  not  only  beautiful, 
but  a  horse  of  the  finest  action — a  fast  walker  and  famous  as  a 
trotter.  When  native  American  stallions  such  as  he  could  be 
found,  the  owner  of  good  mares  need  not  repine  if  he  finds  it 
impossible  to  come  at  the  much-to-be-desired  pure  blooded  for- 
eigner. He  may  rest  assured  of  getting  improved  colts,  and  of 
such  character  as  will,   if  judiciously  handled,  perpetuate,  to 


-91- 

some  extent  at  least,  their  own  good  qualities.  Such  horses  are 
to  be  found  iu  tliese  days.  The  common  sense  of  the  breeder 
will  select  them. 

If  it  is  heavy  draft  stock  that  is  to  be  sought,  the  Norman 
Percheron  stallion,  as  we  have  previously  intimated,  ought  to 
be  had,  provided  the  breeder  has  mares  of  such  size  as  to  render 
it  judicious  to  put  them  to  so  large  a  horse  ;  otherwise,  the  Nor- 
man Percheron  mare  may  be  most  advantageously  bred  to  some 
native  stallion,  say  a  Morgan  a  good  Canadian,  or  some  other 
compactly  built  and  quick-paced  horse. 

But  it  is  unnecessary  to  extend  these  suggestions.  If  the  breed- 
er will  consider  with  care  what  he  really  wants,  and  observe  the 
points  upon  which  we  have  touched,  he  will  be  at  no  loss  to 
judge  intelligently  what  course  to  pursue  when  cross-breeding  is 
his  only  resource.  He  may  often,  of  course,  find  it  difficult  to 
obtain  just  the  stallion  which  his  judgment  tells  him  he  should 
have  for  his  class  of  mares ;  but  this  is  a  pointed  argument  in 
favor  of  that  care  which  our  farmers  should  long  ago  have  exer- 
cised in  this  matter  Intelligent  attention  to  the  improvement 
of  our  stock  throughout  the  Union  will  soon  make  it  possible 
for  them  to  select  their  stallions,  rather  than  be  forced  to  take 
up  with  every  hack  that  comes  along  with  a  flourish  of  red  sur- 
cingles and  a  wonderful  pedigree,  manufactured  to  order. 

As  to  in  and-in  breeding,  but  little  need  be  said.  All  the  long 
winded,  voluminous,  and  learned  discussions  of  the  subject  have 
resulted  in  adding  but  little  more  to  our  stock  of  knowledge 
than  this :  that  too  close  in-and-in  breeding  is  likely  to  bring 
about  weakness,  malformation,  and  general  deterioration;  but 
that  to  fix  and  preserve  and  intensify  a  certain  strain,  the  Jew, 
(to  speak  in  a  figure),  must,  not  intermarry  with  the  heathens 
round  about  him.  In  other  words,  to  have  true  Morgans,  both 
sire  and  dam  must  be  of  that  stock,  though  of  different  families : 
to  keep  up  the  real  Norman  Perclieron  horse,  we  must  have 
Norman  Percherons,  both  male  and  female,  to  breed  from ;  and 
so  on. 

The  objection  to  close  in-and-in  breeding  seems  to  be  here  :  that 
nearness  of  kin  is  apt  to  be  associated  with  likeness  of  qualities 


-92- 

both  physical  and  mental   (if  we  may  so   speak  of  the  horse)  ; 
and  thus  the  great  requirement  that  one  parent  must  supplement 
the   other  is   not   complied   with.     If  there   is   a  weak   point  in 
both,  the  weakness  is  perpetuated  and  made  Vv^orse,  whereas,  a 
weak  point  in  one  should  be  counteracted  by  a  correspondingly 
strong  point  in  the  other.     If  it  could  be  known  with  absolute 
certainly  that  two  animals,  close  of  kin,  had  strongly   marked 
opposite  traits  of  character,  constitution  and  conformation,  they 
might  be  bred  to  each  other,  and  with  the  best  results.     Such  is 
sometimes  the  case  ;  but  it  is  not  likely  to  be,  and  the  rule  should 
be  as  we  have  said— let  the  strain  be  the  same,  but  the  kinship 
as  far  removed  as  possible.     This  is  believed  by  the  most  candid 
observers  to  be  the   secret   of   Arab  success.      The   individual 
breeder  knows  not  alone  his  own  animals,   but    those   of   his 
tribe,  and  of  other  trib  ^s  as  well.     Moreover,  the  Arabs  are  close 
observers  and  astute  judges  of  horse  flesh,  and  an  intelligent  son 
of  the  Desert  could  by  no  reasonable  means  be  induced  to  breed 
his  mare  to  a  stallion  in  which  his  eye  had  marked  some  weak- 
ness or   evil  tendency  which  he  knew  the  mare  likewise  to  pos- 
sess, however  slight  the  indications  might  be  in  either. 

Then,  to  recapittilate  briefly :  if  tlie  breeder  has  it  in  his 
power  to  keep  up  a  certain  stock,  let  him  guard  against  the 
slio-htest  admixture  of  heathen  blood ;  and  to  be  as  sure  as  pos- 
sible  of  no  evil  results,  let  him  look  to  securing  sires  and  dams 
as  widely  removed  from  kinship  as  possible;  but  he  can  never 
afford  to  disregard  the  point  previously  so  much  insisted  upon, 
as  a  principle  to  be  observed  in  crossing,  that  if  either  parent  has 
a  fault,  the  other  must  be  correspondingly  strong  there. 

VI.    Treatment  of  the  Mare  after  being  Served, 
During  Pregnancy,  Etc. 

It  is  proper  next  to  notice  some  little  matters  of  detail  in  con- 
nection with  the  management  of  brood  mares. 

Forty -four  weeks  is  regarded  as  the  time  which  a  mare  goes 
with  foal;  but  this  must  be  taken  as  mean  time,  since  one  occa- 
sionally brings  forth  a  perfect  colt  four  or  five  weeks  sooner,  and 


-93  — 

others  will  go  equally  as  long  beyond  tliis  period.  When  once  the 
time  of  a  mare  is  known,  the  breeder  can  generally  regulate  her  go- 
ing to  the  horse  so  as  to  have  the  colt  appear  at  whatever  season  he 
considers  most  desirable,  but  without  this  knowledge  he  cannot 

After  having  being  served  by  ahorse,  the  mare  should  be  allowed 
to  stand  idle  awhile,  as  conception  will  be  far  more  apt  to  take  place 
if  she  is  left  to  herself.  If  put  to  brisk  motion,  or  to  any  strain 
immediately  after  cox^ulation,  she  is  apt  to  fail  of  conception. 
She  should  also  be  kept  away  from  string-proud  or  badly  cas- 
trated geldings,  not  only  at  this  period,  Init  during  her  entire 
pregnane}',  as  they  are  apt  to  worry  her  to  the  casting  of  the 
conception,  or,  at  a  later  period,  to  slinking  the  foal. 

After  she  has  been  allowed  a  reasonable  season  of  quiet,  mod- 
erate work  will  be  rather  beneficial  than  injurious  ;  and  this  may 
be  kept  up  until  about  the  time  for  foaling.  Special  care  should 
always  be  exercised  to  guard  her  ajainst  being  kicked,  heavily 
thrown,  or  inordinately  strained  in  any  w^ay. 

It  sometimes  occurs  that  at  the  time  of  foaling,  a  false  pre- 
sentation is  made,  producing  difficulty  of  delivery ;  but  no  reli- 
able instructions  can  be  here  given  as  to  what  course  to  pur.^ue 
in  these  cases  ;  and  it  is  best  to  seek  the  aid  of  some  skillful 
veterinary  surgeon. 

The  mare  which  has  had  a  colt  will  be  found  in  season  some- 
time within  the  next  thirty  days,  and  she  ought  to  go  to  the 
horse  at  this  time  if  she  is  to  be  bred  at  all.  The  ninth  day  after 
foaling  will  generally  be  found  to  be  the  right  time.  Whenever 
indications  of  heat  are  discovered,  the  matter  should  not  be  de- 
layed, as  the  season  may  pass  off"  and  not  return.  After  put- 
ting, the  days  of  trail  are  the  ninth,  then,  if  she  refuses,  the 
seventh  after  this,  and  upon  a  second  refusal,  the  fiftli  after 
this,  which  is  sufficient  to  prove  her. 

VII.    How  to  Know  whether  a  Mare  is  in  Foal. 

It  is  often  important  for  both  breeders  and  traders  to  know 
whether  a  mare  is  really  in  foal ;  and  one  prominent  writer  has 
fjublished  the  following  directions  for  determining  this  point, 
which  he  says  may  be  implicitly  relied  on : 


-94- 

*' After  the  first  service  of  the  horse,  and  before  the  next 
trial,  on  examining  the  vagina,  or  bearing,  if  conception  has  not 
taken  place  it  will  be  of  a  fresh,  bright,  or  florid  and  moist  ap- 
pearance, with  a  clear  drop  appearing  at  the  lower  part,  and 
which,  if  tonched  will  incline  to  extend ;  but  if  conception  is 
present,  a  different  appearance  of  the  surface  of  the  vagina  will 
be  presented.  It  will  be  found  dry,  and  of  a  dirt}^  brown  or 
rust  color  ;  and  a  dark,  brown  looking  drop  will  replace  the  for- 
mer clear  drop.  When  these  latter  appearances  are  present, 
pregnancy  may  be  regarded  as  certain." 

VIII.    How  to  Know  Time  of  Foaling. 

Two  daj^s  (in  some  mares  only  one),  before  foaling,  a  sort  of 
sticky  substances  will  be  found  protruding  from  each  teat, 
somewhat  resembling  drops  of  milk.  Care  should  now  be  taken 
to  provide  a  suitable  place  for  her,  as  this  is  a  certain  indication 
of  near  delivery.  She  should  be  removed  from  other  animals, 
and  a  careful  person  should  see  to  her  often  enough  to  guard 
against  accidents 

Before  the  signs  referred  to,  as  shown  by  the  teats,  however, 
there  is  on  each  side  of  the  spinal  column,  from  the  tail  to 
the  haunch,  a  furrow-like  fold;  and  the  bag  will  generally  be 
found  considerably  increased  in  size.  These  signs  show  that 
delivery  is  not  very  remote,  but  cannot  be  relied  on  to  denote 
the  day. 

IX.    Abortion,  or  Slinking  the  Foal. 

When  about  half  the  time  of  pregnancy  is  passed,  more  than 
ordinary  pains  should  be  taken  wdth  the  mare,  as  it  is  at  this 
time,  if  at  all,  that  she  is  apt  to  slink.  She  ought  now*  to  have 
better  feeding,  and  even  gentler  handling  than  she  had  pre- 
viously ;  though  at  all  times  the  ow^ner  but  consults  his  own  in- 
terests when  he  careful]}'  guards  her  against  ill  usage.  She  has 
more  need  of  food,  and  is  less  able,  at  this  time,  to  endure  hun- 
ger, as  the  rapid  growth  of  the  foetus  makes  a  constant  and 
severe  draft  upon  her  system.     What  of  care  may  cause  abor- 


—95- 

tion ;  and  if  a  mare  once  casts  her  foal,  she  is  apt  to  do  so  at  a 
corresponding  period  of  pregnancy  afterwards, — more  especially 
if  like  provocation  occurs 

Various  other  causes  of  abortion,  some  of  which  may  be 
briefly  referred  to,  for  the  purpose  of  pointing  out  certain  pre- 
ventive measures  and  suggesting  others.  Blows,  strains,  and 
any  violent  excitement  may  have  this  effect ;  and  it  is  said  that 
to  allow  a  mare  to  see  and  smell  food  to  which  she  has  been  ac- 
customed, and  of  which  she  is  fond,  without  suffering  her  to  eat 
of  it,  will  cause  slinking.  Feeding  hogs  or  other  stock  upon  corn 
in  sight  of  a  mare  that  is  not  also  thus  fed,  is,  for  this  reason  dan- 
gerous. Sj^mpathy,  is  a  known  cause :  a  pregnant  mare,  seeing 
another  cast  her  foal,  is  apt  to  be  affected  in  like  manner. 
Nervous  spasms,  or  a  sort  of  animal  hysteria,  resulting  from 
sj^mpathy  of  the  womb  with  a  diseased  stomach  or  other  organ, 
occasionally  results  in  causing  the  foal  to  be  cast.  Some  affirm 
that  a  smell  of  blood,  or  of  freshly  slaughtered  meat,  will  do  it. 

If  a  mare  slinks  because  of  a  hurt,  a  strain,  or  some  acute 
attack  of  disease,  she  is  not  apt  to  fall  into  the  habit  of  abortion, 
provided  proper  care  is  taken  to  guard  against  excitiug  causes  at 
a  corresponding  period  of  her  next  pregnanc3^ 

When  once  this  tendency  is  established,  however,  it  is  difficult 
to  counteract  it,  as  the  slinking  is  more  than  likely  to  take  place 
at  times  when  the  mare  is  not  under  observation.  If  symptonG 
of  casting  chance  to  be  discovered  in  time,  it  ma.y  be  prevented 
by  promptly  burning  pigeon  feathers  (or  those  of  other  birds,  if 
these  cannot  be  obtained),  on  a  hot  pan,  or  a  pan  of  coals,  and 
holding  them  so  that  she  will  be  obliged  to  inhale  the  smoke. 

X.    How  to  Raise  Colts. 

If  the  colt  is  healthy  and  thriving,  he  should  be  weaned  at 
from  five  to  six  months  old.  If  allowed  to  run  with  the  dam 
after  this  period,  he  is  an  unnecessary  burden  to  her,  since  he 
has  already  learned  to  pick  up  and  devote  to  his  own  use  other 
sustenance,  and  he  may  most  judiciously  be  taken  away.  If 
at  this  time  the  dam  is  still  inclined  to  furnish  milk  so  copi- 
ously as  to  render  the  udder  painful  to  her,  she  should  be  looked 


-96  — 

after  for  a  few  days,  to  see  that  the  over  fullness  does  not  result 
ill  inflammation  and  swelling.  If  necessary,  draw  away  the 
milk  by  hand  once  a  day  for  three  days.  It  is  a  good  plan  to 
keep  her  at  this  time  on  dryer  food  than  usual,  and  at  more  than 
ordinarily  stead j^  work.  This  course  will  tend  to  prevent  the 
secretion  of  the  usual  quantity  of  milk,  and  the  udder  will  soon 
be  dry. 

No  matter  how  well  born  a  colt  may  be  he  can  never  amount 
to  anj^thing  if  raised  a  starveling.  If  the  dam  is  what  she  should 
be,  he  will  have  been  furnished  with  abundant  sustenance  from 
the  time  of  conception  to  that  of  deliver}^,  which  is  one  of  the 
secrets  of  full  formed,  finely-proportioned,  vigorous  foals.  From 
foal-time  to  weaning  he  will  have  been  kept  vigorous  and  grow- 
ing by  the  quantity  and  character  of  the  milk  furnishd  him,  to- 
gether with  such  little  food  as  he  has  early  learned  to  partake  of 
at  the  manger  and  in  the  pasture  of  the  dam.  And,  now  upon 
being  weaned,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  he  have  liberal 
food  and  sutlicient  protection  from  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather.  This  must  be  carefully  attended  to  during  the  whole 
period  of  growth  if  he  is  expected  to  make  a^ny  adequate  return 
to  the  owner.  Bruised  oats  and  bran  have  been  recommended  as 
the  very  best  food  to  be  given  for  a  considerable  time  after  wean- 
ing. In  any  event  let  his  food  be  supplied  with  regularity ;  and 
ii  must  be  nutritious,  yet  of  such  kind  and  so  disposed  as  to  be 
easil}^  taken. 

He  should  not  be  stabled  too  much,  nor  in  any  other  way  too 
closely  confined — being  allowed  all  that  range  and  exposure  to 
out-door  weather  common  to  older  stock  in  the  more  clement 
seasons ;  but  he  should  never  be  left  out  in  cool  rains  nor  in  the 
storms  and  biting  cold  of  Winter.  If  a  place  is  provided  in 
which  he  may  always  shelter  himself  w^hen  the  condition  of  the 
weather  inclines  him  to  seek  cover,  it  will  save  trouble  and  yet 
insure  a  natural  growth  and  that  hardihood  which  comes  of  suf- 
ficient contact  with  cold  and  heat.  For  this  purpose  a  straw 
rick  is  sometimes  recommended— so  constructed  as  to  furnish 
shelter  on  the  side.  This  will  give  at  the  same  time  bedding  and 
a  light  species  of  food. 


-97- 

Provisious  must  of  course  be  made  for  his  obtaining  readily,  and 
at  such  times  as  the  wants  of  nature  may  dictate,  plenty  of  pure 
water — tlie  purer  the  better. 

Thus  much  as  to  food,  drink,  and  shelter.  Another  point  of 
importance  must  not  be  omitted  in  his  raising,  that  is,  familiar- 
izing him  with  his  master  or  with  whomsoever  has  charge  of 
him.  He  should  be  handled  sufliciently  and  in  such  a  way  as 
thoroughly  to  overcome  all  shyuess,  and  to  lead  him  to  feel  that 
man  is  his  friend.  This  confidence  once  established,  his  training 
— when  the  proper  time  comes  for  that— will  be  easily  and  suc- 
cessfully accomplished  ;  his  subsequent  relations  with  iiis  master 
will  be  always  pleasant,  and  his  value  thereby  much  enhanced. 

And  this,  indeed,  touches  a  fundamental  principle  in  the  care 
of  all  dumb  beasts.  Lead  them  to  recognize  that  man  is  their 
friend;  that  they  can  depend  on  him  to  advance  their  comforts, 
and  to  secure  their  welfare. 

XL    Mules. 

The  breediiig  aud  rearing  of  mules,  so  common  in  many  por- 
tions of  the  United  States,  requires  more  than  a  passing  consider- 
ation. To  obtain  the  best  results  in  crossing  with  the  ass  demands 
as  much  intelligent  care  as  in  the  case  of  the  horse;  and  the  mule- 
breeder  will  find  it  much  to  his  advantage  thoroughly  to  inform 
himself  as  to  how  these  results  are  to  be  obtained. 

Many  mistaken  impressions  prevail  as  to  the  relative  usefulness 
of  the  mule,  as  compared  with  the  cost  of  breeding  and  main- 
tenance. 

It  is  thought  by  the  inexperienced  that  he  is  almost  equally 
adapted  to  every  kind  of  draft  work  to  which  the  horse  may  be 
put;  that  his  power  as  a  pack-animal  is  much  greater  than  that 
of  the  horse;  that  his  endurance  is  greater;  that  he  can  subsist 
on  le.ss  food  ;  and  that  he  demands  every  way  less  care.  All  these 
things  are  set  down  to  his  advantage  ;  but  in  most  instances  the 
impressions  are  wholly  erroneous.  As  a  general  thing,  he  is  not 
well  adapted  to  road  or  to  city  purposes  at  all.  Especially  are 
hard  roads  and  pavements  destructive  to  him  if  he  is  large  of 
body  and   disproportionately  small  of  leg.     He  is  not  so  stout  as 


-98- 

a  horse  of  proportionate  size ;  he  is  utterly  incapable  of  carr^^ng 
so  great  burdens  as  some  have  represented,  even  if  loaded  and 
attended  by  experienced  packers,— particularly  if  the  journey  is 
to  be  continuous  and  the  roads  are  at  all  heavy ;  his  powers  of 
endurance  are  not  greater  than  those  of  the  hardier  kind  of 
horses;  he  will  consume  as  much  food  as  a  horse  of  proportionate 
size,  if  required  to  do  like  work  and  to  maintain  a  like  condition; 
and  as  to  care,  he  can  do  without  it — so  can  a  horse — but  both 
fail  thereby  of  that  eminent  thriftiness,  sprightliness  and  longevity 
which  is  expected  of  animals  to  which  it  is  extended. 

On  the  other  hand,  and  to  his  discredit,  it  is  commonly  thought 
that  he  is  naturally  vicious,  and  wholly  incapable  of  appreciating 
kindly  treatment— that  the  only  way  to  control  him  is  by  violence. 
Hence,  those  who  handle  him  generally  feel  as  though  they  are  jus- 
tifiable in  whipping,  beating,  kicking  and  w^hatsoever  other  cruelties 
they  may  choose  to  inflict.  This  is  a  grievous,  foolish  and  wicked 
mistake.  The  mule  has  one  means  of  defense,  and  his  heels  are 
dangerous  to  those  who  wantonly  provoke  or  startle  him  and 
place  themselves  in  his  way.  His  long  ears  are  sensitive,  and  by 
roughly  handling  them  his  combativeness  is  easily  aroused,  and 
distrust  is  awakened  to  that  degree  that  renders  him  almost  un- 
manageable. Yet,  the  mule  mav  be  so  raised  and  trained  as  to 
make  him  gentle,  obedient,  even  aflfectionateand  ready  to  follow  his 
master  like  a  dog— so  trusty  that  only  the  one  always  necessary  pre- 
caution need  be  observed  in  dealing  with  him — to  keep  out  of  the 
way  of  his  heels,  which  he  throws  out  as  instinctively  when 
startled,  irritated  or  approached  by  a  stranger,  as  a  cat  thrusts 
out  her  claws.  It  has  been  remarked  that  "when  a  mule  gets 
perfectly  gentle,  he  is  unfit  for  service:"  and  that,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  prevailing  method  of  training  him.  is  doubtless 
true  ;  but  there  is  a  better  way,  and,  if  followed,  it  would  result 
as  we  have  stated  above. 

Kow,  while  the  mule  is  not  adapted  to  everything,  and  endowed 
with  powers  that  are  adequate  to  endure  starvation  and  brutal 
treatment  while  in  the  performance  of  hard  and  faithful  service, 
he  is  admirabh' calculated  to  meet  manj^  of  the  wants  of  individuals 
and   cornorations  ;  and   his   breeding,  rearing  and   training  are 


—  99  — 

matters  for  intelligent  consideration.  For  supplying  the  army  he 
cannot  be  replaced  ;  for  towing  canal  boats  he  answers  admirably; 
for  hauling  cars  inside  of  coal  mines,  he  is  indispensable ;  for  the 
general  knock-about  work  of  a  farm  he  is  good  in  all  temperate 
climates  ;  and  in  a  cotton  and  sugar  country,  where  it  is  waiin 
and  sandy,  he  is  most  especially  valuable.  Though  he  cannot 
endure  everything  and  still  meet  every  requirement  of  a  heartless 
task-master,  he  is  yet  gifted  with  a  hardihood  that  is  admirable, 
and  recuperative  powders  that  are  astonishing.  Seemingly  half 
dead,  utterly  broken  down  and  w^orthless,  he  will,  with  a  little 
rest  and  care,  soon  be  again  ready  for  service. 

In  breeding  for  mules  no  less  attention  should  be  paid  to  the 
selection  of  suitable  mares  and  a  suitable  jack  than  in  the  case 
of  horses.  It  is  folly  to  use  old,  worn-out,  diseased,  ill-formed, 
ill-conditioned  mares,  and  yet  hope  to  obtain  a  good  foal.  Asa 
general  thing,  a  great,  overgrown,  long-legged  mule  is  next  to 
worihless.  He  is  expensive  to  keep  and  unreliable  as  a  worker — 
lacking  wind,  strength  and  nimbleness.  The  medium-sized,  clean, 
compact  mule  is  by  all  odds  the  best,  unless  a  team  can  be  found 
to  combine  more  than  the  ordinary  height  with  round  bodies,  not 
disposed  to  fleshiness,  and  larger,  stronger  legs  than  usual,  with 
feet  above  the  common  size— which  is  seldom  the  case.  The 
Spanish  or  Mexican  mule — the  offspring  of  stout,  close-built, 
active  Mustang  or  Mexican  mares  is  superior  in  endurance  to 
any  known  in  the  United  States.  He  requires  less  food,  takes  it 
quicker,  and  is  always  in  better  fix  for  travel.  If  it  is  more 
profitable  to  raise  good  animals  than  poor  ones,  (and  no  man  of 
ordinary  intelligence  can  doubt  this  proposition),  select  mares  for 
mule  bearing  that  are  sound,  compactly  built,  and  yet  without 
any  contractedness  of  body — active,  strong,  every  waj^  ser\  iceable. 
Then,  the  choice  of  a  suitable  jack  is  important — doubly  so  from 
the  fact  that  the  great  majority  of  mares  breed  after  the  jack  in 
the  matter  of  legs  and  feet,  and,  if  it  is  a  good  and  powerful  jack, 
the  foal  wdll  generally  bear  his  marks,  which  is  a  matter  of  some 
importance,  since  mules  so  marked  are  always  regarded  by  ex- 
perienced stock  men  as  being  most  hardy  and  valuable.  The  jack 
should  be  large — the  larger  the  better,  other  things  being  equal, 


—  lOO  — 

since  it  is  impossible  to  find  one  so  much  surpassing  in  size  the 
mares  we  have  described  as  to  render  him  objectionable  on  account 
of  disproportion,  as  may  easily  be  the  case  with  a  horse.  Most  es- 
pecially must  the  breeder  have  an  eye  to  his  legs  and  feet ;  for 
here,  if  at  all,  the  mule  is  apt  to  be  a  failure — having  a  horse's 
body,  ready  to  take  on  flesh  beyond  his  requirements,  mounted 
on  legs  that  are  too  slight  of  bone  and  too  small  of  muscle,  with 
feet  below  the  standard  size  for  highest  usefulness. 

As  for  the  treatment  of  mares  that  are  to  be  thus  bred,  no 
farther  directions  need  be  laid  down,  since  it  must  be  substantially 
the  same  as  that  prescribed  for  the  breeding  of  horse  foals.  Tlie 
like  instructions  relative  to  weaning,  feeding  and  sheltering  the 
colt  must  also  be  carried  out ;  and  too  much  importance  cannot 
be  attached  to  beginning  early  the  work  of  familiarizing  him 
Avith  man.  He  should  be  taught  to  regard  his  keepers  without 
f^'ar,  to  allow  himself  to  be  haltered,  and  readil}^  to  submit  lo 
submit  to  direction  and  guidance.  If  this  is  done,  he  will  be 
easily  trained,  when  the  proper  time  shall  have  arrived  ;  and  if 
properly  handled  and  judiciously  taught  then,  he  will  be  not  only 
a  useful,  but  a  trusty  and  agreeable  animal. 


Cb  V}  Ci  C-)  ^t^  Cc  /o  f  ^ 


en 

H 
ft 


—  104  — 


The  Breaking  and  Taming  of  Wild  and  Vicious  Horses. 


Nature  of  the  Horse. 

The  horse  has  no  reasoning  faculties  beyond  the  limits  of  his  ex- 
perience. Hence  "we  can  reason  with  him  by  acts  alone.  Literally, 
with  the  horse,  acts  speak  louder  than  words ;  and  hence  the  abso- 
lute importance  of  commencing  every  move  with  the  horse  right, 
for  by  our  acts  he  learns.  Secondly,  early  impressions  are  strong 
both  in  the  human  family  and  with  the  horse,  and  seldom,  if  ever, 
are  entirely  erased  from  memory's  tablet. 

Who  is  there  in  the  human  family  that  does  not  well  remember 
the  first  impressions  of  his  boyhood  days ;  and  as  we  journey  on 
through  life,  what  a  controlling  influence  they  exert  over  us;  just 
so  with  the  horse.  Hence  the  great  importance  of  having  his  first 
impressions  of  man,  of  such  a  nature  as  to  convince  him  not  only 
of  man's  superiority,  but  to  satisfy  him  that  man  is  his  best  friend. 
Obtained  by  a  systematic  course  of  handling,  not  only  supreme 
power  over  him,  but  teach  him  also  to  repose  trust  and  confidence 
in  you  and  then  never  betray  it.  No  animal  has  memory  equal  to 
that  of  the  horse,  and  none  will  reciprocate  a  kindness  or  resent  an 
injury  sooner.  I  hold  that  man  being  on  account  of  his  intellectual 
resources  superior  to  all  other  animals,  is  and  has  a  right  to  be  at 


—  loa- 
the head  of  all  animal  creation,  for  he  can  adopt  means  to  overcome 
the  strength  of  the  horse  or  even  use  it  against  himself. 

Always  remember  this :  before  any  attempt  is  made  to  handle  a 
horse,  it  is  an  imperative  necessity  that  we  must  first  consider  his 
disposition,  nature  and  understanding. 


Xames  and  Situations  of  the  External  Parts  of  a  Horse. 


1.  Muscles. 

2.  Face. 

3.  Forehead. 

4.  Poll.' 

5.  Crest. 

6.  Withers. 

7.  Back. 

8.  Loins. 

9.  Hip. 

10.  Croup. 

11.  Dock. 

12.  Quarters. 

13.  Thigh. 

14.  Hamstring. 


15.  Hock. 

16.  Cannon. 

17.  Fetlock. 

18.  Large  Pastern. 

19.  Small  Pastern. 

20.  Hoof. 

21.  Sheath. 

22.  Flank. 

23.  Belly. 

24.  Stifle. 

25.  Coronet. 

26.  Girth. 

27.  Elbow. 

28.  Arm. 


29.  Heel. 

30.  Small  Pastern. 

31.  Large  Pastern. 

32.  Fetlock. 

33.  Cannon  or  Shasik 

34.  Knee. 

35.  Forearm, 

36.  Breast. 

37.  Point. 

38.  Shoulder. 

39.  Windpipe. 

40.  Gullet. 

41.  Neck. 

42.  Jowl. 


—  106  — 


Intelligent  Driviag-  Horses. 

Question.     How  would  you  tell  the  dispositions  of  different  horses? 

A?iswc?\  Horses  vary  in  disprsition  the  same  as  people.  Some 
have  nervous,  excitable  dispositions,  while  others  are  treacherous 
and  sullen.  Tf  the  horse  has  loug  ears,  long  hair  on  the  inside,  nar- 
row between  the  ears,  narrow  between  the  eyes,  with  a  small,  round 
eye,  sunken  in  the  back  of  the  head,  and  a  small,  thick  nostril,  you 
have  a  horse  of  no  intelligence  and  of  a  very  sluggish  disposition. 
If  you  have  a  horse  with  small  ears,  furry  inside,  broad  between  the 
ears,  broad  between  the  eyes,  with  a  large,  full,  hazel  eye,  and  a 
large,  thin  nostril,  he  is  a  quick,  nervous,  intelligent  animal,  ready 
to  obey  any  command  that  you  give  him;  but  you  must  not  whip  or 
spur  him.  Now,  if  you  ever  find  a  horse  that  drops  in  on  the  top 
of  his  head  and  full  between  his  eyes  and  a  kind  of  a  Eoman  neck  on 
him,  and  the  face  between  the  eyes  dished  out,  these  are  generally 
horses  that  have  some  vicious  or  bad  vice,  and  have  a  treacherous 
and  vicious  disposition. 


Question.     What  colored  horses  are  of  the  best  disposition? 

Anszver.     During  my  professional  career  of  over  fifteen  years,  and 
having  handled  in   the  neighborhood  over   15,000   horses,  I   have 


—  107  — 

found  the  easiest  subjects  were  horses  of  the  following  colors :  Black, 
dark  bay,  dark  brown  and  chestnut.  Horses  of  iron  gray,  light 
chestnut  or  sorrel  and  light  bay  generally  are  horses  of  a  mean  dis- 
position or  a  very  stubborn  will. 

Thoroughbred  horses  require  more  hard  work  and  longer  lessons 
to  get  them  under  perfect  control  than  a  cold-blooded  horse,  but 
when  once  thoroughly  taught  what  you  want  him  to  do  he  will 
never  forget  your  teachings. 


Question. 
ward. 


How  do  you  handle  a  whip  to  make  a  colt  come  for- 


Answer,  Take  hold  of  his  halter  with  one  hand  (left  hand),  take 
a  bow  whip  in  your  right  hand,  let  the  cracker  of  the  whip  touch 
him  on  the  tail,  carrying  the  whip  directly  over  his  back,  as  seen  in 
the  above  engraving;  touch  him  lightly  with  the  whip  and  sa^ 
**come  here." 


—  108  — 

Question.  How  would  you  break  and  train  a  colt,  and  at  what 
age  would  you  give  the  colt  his  first  lesson  ? 

Answer.  The  first  lesson  to  give  a  colt  should  be  to  turn  him 
into  a  box  stall  or  enclosure  of  some  kind  about  twenty  feet  square, 
taking  in  your  right  hand  a  whip  and  approaching  the  colt.  If  he 
runs  away  from  you  give  him  a  crack  of  the  whip  around  the  hind 
limbs  and  follow  this  up  until  he  will  turn  his  head  towards  you. 


then  throw  the  whip  back  under  your  left  arm,  holding  out  your 
right  hand,  using  the  words  "  come  here."  If,  as  you  approach  the 
colt,  he  turns  to  run  away  from  you,  give  him  the  whip.  When  he 
comes  to  you  offer  him  an  apple.  In  thirty  or  forty  minutes'  time 
you  will  teach  him  that  it  is  wrong  to  turn  his  heels  towards  you ;  but 
when  he  finds  he  is  being  rewarded  he  will  soon  learn  that  the  right 
way  is  to  keep  his  head  to  you. 

When  working  with  a  colt  always  have  plenty  of  patience ;  go 
slow  and  easy,  be  gentle  with  him  and  learn  him  as  you  would  a 
child  his  A,  B,  C's. 


—  109  — 

Question.  How  do  you  handle  a  colt's  feet  and  teach  him  to 
stand  to  be  shod  ? 

Answer.  In  handling  a  colt  for  the  blacksmith  shop,  place  a 
sureingle  around  his  body,  then  take  a  strap  about  ten  inches  long 
and  strap  his  front  foot  up  to  the  surcingle.  How  many  times  in 
picking  up  the  foot  you  have  seen  a  great  many  persons,  especially  a 
blacksmith,  pound  a  colt's  foot  to  make  him  take  it  up.  N'ow,  in- 
stead of  doing  that,  place  your  left  hand  upon  the  horse's  shoulder, 
with  the  right  hand  take  hold  of  the  horse's  ankle.  When  you  wish 
the  foot  to  come  up  press  against  the  horse's  shoulder  with  your  left 


hand,  this  throws  him  off  his  balance  and  you  can  very  easily  take 
the  foot  from  the  ground.  As  your  strength  is  nothing  compared 
with  the  horse's  strength  you  must  use  such  means  as  to  overpower 
him  and  to  place  him  in  the  position  where  he  cannot  get  away  from 
you  in  order  for  you  to  meet  with  success.  Now,  after  you  have 
strapped  his  front  foot  up  to  the  surcingle,  you  then  compel  the 


—  no  — 

colt  to  make  four  or  five  steps  on  three  legs.  If  he  is  inclined  to 
be  wil^  he  will  rear,  pitch  and  plunge  in  the  air,  but  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  get  his  foot  away;  but  as  soon  as  he  finds  out  that  he 
is  fast  he  will  give  up;  you  can  unbuckle  the  strap  and  loosen  his 
foot  and  you  then  have  his  limb  under  perfect  control.  Now  this  is 
only  one  front  limb;  the  other  must  be  handled  the  same  way. 


Question.     How  would  you  break  a  colt  to  ride  ? 

Anszoer.  First  put  on  a  riding  bridle  and  an  ordinary  surcingle. 
Let  one  man  stand  on  the  off  side  of  the  colt  with  his  right  hand 
on  the  bridle  bit,  and  another  man  stand  on  the  nigh  side  of  the  colt 
Avith  his  left  hand  holding  the  bridle  bit.  Then  take  a  boy  and  let 
him  mount  the  colt.  The  moment  he  is  on  the  colt's  back,  the  man 
on  the  off  side,  with  his  left  hand,  takes  hold  of  the  boy's  leg,  and  the 
man  on  the  nigh  side  also  takes  hold  of  the  boy's  leg  with  his  right 
hand.  Xow,  if  the  colt  should  plunge,  there  are  two  of  you  to  hold 
him,  and  at  the  same  time  you  are  holding  on  to  the  boy,  and  it  is  im- 


—  Ill- 
possible  for  the  colt  to  throw  him  off'.  Lead  him  around  for  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes  in  this  way.  Then  you  can  let  go  of  the  boy's  legs, 
and  one  man  can  lead  the  colt.  Be  very  careful  to  caution  the  rider 
not  to  touch  his  heels  to  the  colt's  side.  Lead  him  around,  say  for 
ten  or  twenty  minutes.  Let  the  driver  dismount  and  mount  him 
again.  Then  pat  the  colt  away.  In  two  or  three  hours  bring  him 
out  again  and  get  on  him.  If  he  should  make  any  attempt  to 
throw  the  rider  the  second  time,  let  him  take  the  left-hand  line  in 
four  inches  shorter  than  the  other.  That  pulls  the  colt's  head 
around  to  his  side  and  sets  him  on  a  whirl.  After  he  has  whirled 
around  six  or  eight  times  he  becomes  a  little  dizzy.  You  can  then 
straighten  up  on  the  lines  and  say,  ''Get  up,"  and  he  will  move  off 
nicely.  AYork  as  easy  with  him  as  you  possibly  can.  I  would  advise 
that  all  colts,  before  being  rode,  should  be  thrown.  Then  you  will 
have  no  difficulty  whatever. 


Handling  and  Driving  a  Colt. 

Teach  him  not  to  be  afraid  of  all  kinds  of  objects.  In  the  hand- 
ling of  a  colt  for  driving  purposes,  first  take  an  ordinary  open  bridle 
and  straight  bar  bit  and  a  surcingle,  or  a  pad  of  harness,  and  run 
the  lines  through  the  thill  straps  of  the  harness;  then  step  back 
behind  the  colt  and  take  hold  of  the  lines  and  commence  to  teach  him 
to  turn  right  and  left  by  the  bit.  Never  teach  him  more  than  one 
thing  at  a  time.  After  you  get  him  so  he  will  turn  quickly  to  the 
right  and  left  by  line,  you  then  can  teach  him  the  word  "whoa." 
Then  after  this  has  been  accomplished  teach  him  to  back.  Ther_ 
before  ever  putting  a  colt  before  a  wagon,  be  sure  you  have  him 
thoroughly  bitted  and  have  taught  him  all  of  the  above  commands. 
Now,  before  hitching  the  colt,  you  want  to  make  him  familiar  with 
everything  that  will  be  liable  to  frighten  him  on  the  start,  such  as 
umbrellas,  tin  pans,  paper,  fire-crackers,  buffalo  robes,  blankets,  top 
carriages,  and  m  fact  every  object  that  frightens  many  of  our  horses 
and  makes  them  run  away.  In  order  to  control  the  colt,  teach  him 
that  these  objects  are  harmless,  in  the  following  manner: 

Buckle  an  ordinary  hame  strap  around  each  front  limb  below  the 
fetlock  joint ;  then  take  a  rope  twenty  feet  long,  tie  one  end  of  this 


—  112  — 

rope  into  the  ring  of  the  nigh  front  limb ;  then  place  the  rope  over 
the  ring  in  the  surcingle  underneath  the  horse's  body ;  now  through 
a  ring  on  the  ofif  front  limb,  back  through  the  ring  in  the  surcingle; 
this  gives  you  a  double  lever  purchase  on  the  front  limbs ;  now  step 
back  behind  the  colt,  take  the  lines  in  the  right  hand  and  the  rope 
m  the  left  band,  give  the  colt  the  command  to  move  forward ;  when 
you  wish  him  to  stop  use  the  word  "  whoa"  and  pull  the  rope  at  the 


Showing:  the   WorMu^  of  Gleason's  Double  Safety  Rope. 


san*e  time,  which  will  bring  the  colt  to  his  knees.  ISTow,  after  you 
have  practiced  with  the  working  of  this  rope,  you  then  have  a  boy 
take  an  umbrella  and  come  up  in  front  of  him  over  his  head,  rattle 
tin  pans,  sleigh  bells,  buffalo  robes,  and,  in  fact,  introduce  him  to 
everything  that  is  liable  to  frighten  him.  If  he  makes  any  attempt 
to  get  away  bring  him  to  his  knees  and  hold  him  there,  and  teach 
him  that  he  is  not  going  to  be  hurt.  These  lessons  must  not  be 
over  one  hour,  giving  two  of  them  per  day,  and  in  five  days  your  colt  is 
ready  to  drive. 


—  113  — 

All  colts  should  be  broke  thoroughly  to  harness  when  one  year  of 
age,  but  never  put  to  hard  work  until  they  are  five  years  of  age. 
When  breaking  use  as  light  a  vehicle  as  possible.  Always  educate 
your  colt  to  drive  single  first,  and  any  one  can  drive  him  double. 

Too  much  importance  cannot  be  attached  to  the  manner  of  edu- 
cating a  horse's  heels,  as  it  is  in  that  point  his  greatest  means  of  de- 
fence and  resistance  lies,  and  most  men  make  the  mistake  of  break- 
ing one  end  of  the  horse,  while  they  allow  his  hind  parts  to  go 
uneducated.  The  instructions  I  am  about  to  give  will,  if  properly 
followed,  insure  success. 


To  Educate  a  Colt  not  to  he  Afraid  of  His  Heels. 


"While  you  have  the  colt  down,  as  illustrated  in  the  above  cut, 
make  him  thoroughly  acquainted  with  bells,  drums,  tin  pans  and 
cracking  of  the  whip,  being  careful  all  the  while  not  to  inflict  pain. 
Roll  an  empty  barrel  over  him,  all  the  time  creating  as  much  noise 
as  possible;  you  will  find  he  will  soon  give  up  to  it,  lying  perfectly 


—  114  — 

still  like  a  philosopher  until  the  confasion  is  stopped  and  you  com- 
mand him  to  get  up.  When  he  gets  up  caress  him  by  patting  him 
on  the  neck,  giving  him  an  apple,  &g.  Xow,  give  the  colt  this 
same  lesson  every  day  for  three  or  four  days  and  you  will  soon  see  the 
practical  utility  of  this  teaching  when  you  come  to  drive  him,  as 
you  will  have  a  young  horse  that  will  not  be  afraid  of  bands  of  mu- 
sic or  any  sudden  noises  which  he  may  come  in  contact  with,  and 
he  will  always  remember  the  lesson. 

The  above  instruction  is  equally  applicable  to  a  kicking  horse,  but 
in  his  education  he  will  require  more  lessons  before  the  habit  will  be 
entirely  removed.  Still,  kindness  and  a  little  patience  will  soon  ac- 
complish all  you  desire. 

Men  in  general  exercise  too  little  patience  in  the  training  of  their 
colts,  and  they  frequently  expect  to  accomplish  more  in  a  short 
space  of  time  than  can  possibly  be  performed.  Yet  the  time  really 
required,  when  measured  by  days,  is  so  short  as  to  be  really  surpris. 
ing.  Let  us  suppose  that  in  training  a  colt  one  were  to  spend  two 
hours  a  day  for  ten  days,  which  is  the  longest  time  that  could  possi-* 
bly  be  needed.  Compute  the  time  at  ten  hours  to  a  day,  and  the 
whole  amounts  fco  but  two  days,  at  the  end  of  which  he  would  have 
a  well  educated  animal.  I  doubt  if  a  farmer  or  horse  raiser  could 
employ  his  time  more  profitably  in  any  other  way  than  in  thor- 
oughly educating  his  colts,  as  he  thus  enhances  their  value,  for 
there  is  no  sensible  man  who  would  not  give  fifty  dollars  more  for  a 
properly  educated  animal  than  for  one  improperly  trained. 

Question,  How  would  you  hitch  a  colt  by  the  halter  the  first 
time? 

Answer,  Take  a  rope  twenty  feet  long,  making  a  slip-knot  in  one 
end,  passmg  it  around  the  body  in  front  of  the  colt's  hind  legs,  with 
the  knot  directly  under  the  horse's  belly,  bringing  the  other  end  be- 
tween his  front  legs,  then  up  through  the  halter;  then  hitch  him 
to  the  manger  or  post,  throwing  the  halter  strap  over  his  back  so  as 
to  be  out  of  the  way.  Bo  sure  and  have  a  halter  with  a  strong  head 
stall.  Then  step  in  front  of  him  and  show  him  a  parasol,  beat  a 
drum,  doing  anything  and  everything  you  can  to  frighten  him,  be- 


115 


ing  careful  not  to  inflict  pain,  and  repeat  this  lesson  to  liiin  every 
day  for  two  or  three  days,  and  you  will  have  him  thoroughly  broke* 
Use  the  same  treatment  for  a  halter  puller. 


C^(  fl^^ 


Questioiu     Can  you  give  me  any  rule  to  buy  a  family  horse  by  ? 

Answer.  Your  horse  should  stand  sixteen  hands  high,  the  ears 
very  small,  pointed  and  furry  inside,  very  wide  between  the  ears ;  a 
large  bright  hazel  eye  standing  out  prominently ;  the  nostrils  must 
be  large  and  thin  ;  neck  long  and  well  cut  up  under  the  jaw ;  heavy 
muscle  on  top.  The  withers  must  always  be  higher  than  the  hips; 
back  broad  and  long  hips,  and  close  ,'ointed. 

For  durability  always  buy  a  close-jointed  horse,  and  one  with  fine, 
short  hair.  The  finer  the  hair  the  longer-lived  the  horse.  For  a 
good  road  horse,  he  should  measure  exactly  as  much  from  betw^een 
his  ears  and  his  withers  as  from  withers  to  the  coupling  of  the  hip ; 
that  is,  the  withers  should  be  exactly  midway  between  his  ears  and 


—  116  — 


the  coupling  of  the  hip.  From  the  point  of  the  withers  to  the 
shoulder  should  be  just  as  long  as  from  the  coupling  of  the  hip  to 
the  point  of  hip  by  tail.     The  horse  should  measure  from  the  point 


of  his  withers  to  the  bottom  of  his  front  foot  fiffcy-seven  inches,  and 
from  the  point  of  the  shoulder  to  the  point  of  the  hip;  length  of 
horse,  sixty-two  inches.  Parties  buying  by  this  rule  will  find  it  in- 
variable. 

The  Way  to  Shoe  a  Vicious  Horse. 

Take  a  strap  and  buckle  around  the  hind  foot  below  the  fetlock 
joint,  and  take  a  rope  ten  feet  long  and  place  it  through  the  ring 
upon  this  strap ;  take  a  wooden  pin  four  inches  long  and  an  inch  in 
diameter,  lay  directly  acros~  he  hair  of  the  horse^s  tail — doubling 
the  hair  over  the  pin  makes  a  loop — then  tie  a  slip  knot  in  one  end 
of  the  rope  and  pass  it  over  the  end  of  the  tail  and  the  pin  ;  now 
reach  down  and  take  hold  of  the  rope,  stepping  directly  behind  the 
colt,  and  say  to  him  *'  take  up  your  foot,  sir,"  and  pull  the  rope  at 
the  same  time.     After  picking  up  his  foot  four  or  five  times,  by  th^ 


—  117- 


Handling:  a  Colt's  Hind  Feet. 


use  of  this  rope,  you  can  handle  his  hind  feet  with  ease  to  be  shod 
Handle  the  other  foot  by  the  same  process. 


Oleason's  Head  Strap  to  be  Used  wbile  Shoeing  Ticions  Horses^ 


"When  you  have  a  horse  that  will  not  stand  to  be  shod  in  a  black- 
smith shop,  take  a  strap  about  four  feet  long,  make  a  ring  in  one  end 
of  it,  put  the  strap  in  his  mouth,  having  the  ring  at  the  top  of  his 
head.  Pass  the  other  end  of  the  strap  through  the  ring  and  draw 
down  tight  and  tie.  Then  use  in  combination  my  method  of  hand- 
ling a  horse's  foot.  Rope,  wooden  pin  and  strap  as  seen  in  engrav- 
ing elsewhere  in  this  book.  By  this  means  you  have  complete  con- 
trol of  your  horse.  Always  be  gentle  with  your  horse,  but  be  firm 
and  teach  him  that  you  must  have  your  way. 


Perfect  Heads  of  Draft  Horses,  Kind  and  Good  Workers. 


Question.     How  do  you  work  your  bit,  and  is  it  patented  ? 

Ans2ver,  My  bit  is  a  straight  bar  bit  with  check  pieces,  with  slot-a 
in  lower  ring  and  a  small  ring  for  curb  strap.  When  the  bit  is  buck- 
led to  the  bridle  the  cheek  piece  of  the  bit  buckles  into  the  big 
rings  right  in  front  of  curb  strap  rings.  For  driving  an  ordinary 
horse  the  reins  are  buckled  into  the  big  rings.  If  you  have  a  horse 
that  is  liable  to  run  away,  kick,  shy  or  is  hard  to  control,  buckle  the 
\ines  from  the  big  ring  and  buckle  them  down  in  the  slot  of  the 


—  119  — 

cheek  piece.  This  gives  you  500  pounds  pressure,  and  any  lady  can 
drive  the  Avorsfc  puller  that  you  ever  saw.  The  curb  strap  must  be 
buckled  at  all  times  back  of  the  jaw.     Just  have  it  fit  snugly. 

The  philosophy  of  this  bit,  bei^g  perfectly  square,  is  that  tlie 
moment  you  pull  on  the  reins  the  bit  turns  in  the  horse's  mouth  and 
throws  his  jaws  open ;  the  curb  strap  doing  its  work  throws  the  bit 
directly  back  from  the  jaw. 


F/6,3, 


prof.o.r.gleason's 

g)  NEW  BRIDLE  BIT 

PATENTED 
FEB.  21  U   1688 

N9  5/8,505 
SEE  FUll  DIRECTIONS, HOW 

i        ENGRAVING. 


F/G.  ^* 


INVENTOR 

I  have  studied  over  three  years  to  invent  a  bit  that  would  do  its 
work  and  do  away  with  all  those  cruel  four-ring  bits,  chain  bits,  and 
in  fact  all  severe  bits.  This  one  I  am  using  at  the  present  time  at 
all  my  exhibitions  with  grand  success,  and  can  recommend  it  as  the 
best  driving  bit  I  ever  used. 


—  120  — 

I  had  the  bit  patented,  number  of  patent,  378,305,  on  the  21st  day 
of  February,  1SS8.  I  have  other  patents  still  pending.  I  caution  all 
parties  not  to  manufacture  or  offer  for  sale  these  bits  unless  so  author- 
ized by  me. 

The  Working  of  my  New  Bit. 

A  represents  the  mouth-piece  or  bit  proper,  which  is  made  in  cross 
sections,  with  its  edges  cut  off  or  dulled  to  prevent  injury  to  the 
horse^s  mouth.  To  each  end  of  the  mouth-piece  or  bit  proper  and 
attached  to  the  rings  B  in  the  usual  manner.  The  rings  B,  prefer- 
ably made  of  steal  and  cast  in  one  piece,  are  each  formed  with  the 
downwardly  projecting  arm  B,  having  a  slot  B  2,  for  attaching  the 
reins,  and  with  the  upwardly  2:)rojecting  loop  or  eye  B  3  for  receiving 
a  curb  strap  when  desired.  For  ordinary  use  the  headstall  C,  and 
reins  D,  will  both  be  secured  to  the  rings  B,  as  shown  in  figure  3 ; 
but  when  the  bit  is  to  be  used  upon  vicious  and  unruly  horses,  the 
reins  D  are  secured  to  the  arms  B,  and  the  curb  strap  E,  which 
passes  under  the  jaw  of  the  hors?,  is  secured  to  the  loops  or  eyes  B  3, 
as  shown  in  figure  4.  When  thus  arranged,  by  pulling  o:z  the  reins, 
the  leverage  being  increased,  the  mouth-piece  or  bit  proper  will  be 
turned,  and  owing  to  its  being  square  it  will  be  impossible  for  the 
horse  to  take  the  bit  in  his  teeth  and  hold  on  to  it.  Instead  of  form- 
ing the  arms  B  of  the  rings  with  slots,  rings  may  be  secured  to  the 
ends  thereof  as  in  the  ordinary  manner. 

Question.  What  do  you  think  of  the  check  reins  ?  Should  they 
be  used  on  a  horse  ? 

Answer.  I  think  the  check  reins,  as  used  by  many  of  our  horse 
owners,  are  a  cruelty  to  animals.  I  will  give  you  my  idea  of  the 
check  rein  and  as  I  think  it  should  be  used.  In  the  first  place,  if 
your  horse  is  born  into  this  world  with  style  he  will  always  have  it. 
If  he  is  born  into  the  world  without  style,  you  cannot  produce  style 
where  nature  designed  for  it  not  to  go  by  the  use  of  straps  or  ropes, 
unless  you  are  torturing  the  poor  dumb  brute. 

1  approve  of  the  side  check  rein  used  only  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  putting  his  head  to  the  ground  when  you  stop  your  team.     I 


—  121  ~ 

condemn  the  use  of  all  overdniw  check  reins,  also  check  bits  of  every 
description.  A  great  many  believe  that  by  using  an  overdraw  check 
rein  and  elevating  their  horses'  heads  in  the  air  that  they  drive  easier 
and  that  tliey  are  guarding  against  the  horse  from  running  away. 
This  is  wrong.  No  horse,  in  my  estimation,  looks  handsomer,  freer 
and  easier  than  those  that  are  driven  with  open  bridles  and  no  check 
rein.    I  would  here  suggest  that  every  team  horse  to-day  used  or  heavy 


draft  horse,  or  hack  horses,  and  all  animals  used  by  transportation 
companies,  should  be  worked  with  open  bridles,  doing  away  with  the 
blinders  and  the  check  rein.  Give  the  work  horse  and  the  driving 
horse  the  free  use  of  his  head,  the  same  that  you  wish  yourself,  not 
only  will  they  drive  better,  but  last  longer,  and  keep  on  five  per  cent, 
less  food. 

A  law  should  be  passed  prohibiting  the  use  of  all  overdraw  check 
reins,  as  it  passes  directly  over  the  brain  of  the  horse. 


—  122  — 


The  Horse  with  Over-check. 


In  this  illustration  we  see  tlie  law  of  curyed  line  violated.  ISTot 
only  is  the  strap  running  over  the  head  made  unduly  consi')icious, 
but  a  straight  line  runnmg  thus  over  an  arching  neck  is  as  much  out 
of  place  as  a  straight  pole  would  be  by  the  side  of  a  bed  of  roses. 

Again,  this  straight  strap  is  not  only  a  disfigurement  of  itself,  but 
it  is  still  further  injurious  to  fine  appearance,  in  consequence  of  tak- 
ing the  curve  from  the  horse's  neck  and  converting  it  into  a  straight 
line,  besides  wearing  off  and  breaking  to  pieces  the  mane,  which  in 
many  horses  is  a  leading  feature  of  beauty. 

It  will  also  be  seen  that  the  grandeur  of  the  horse's  bearing  and 
noble  pose  of  head  are  all  destroyed  by  this  peculiar  method  of 
checking  which  turns  the  eyes  upward  and  nose  outward,  and  makes 
the  neck  apjoear  considerably  smaller  than  it  really  is. 

It  is  impossible  to  resort  to  a  device  that  will  more  efiectually 
destroy  the  handsome  appearance  of  fine  horses  than  does  this  foolish 
appliance  for  raising  the  horse's  head  by  means  of  the  overcheck. 
There  is  no  beautiful  object  in  nature  but  would  have  its  beauty 
marred  by  a  line  that  would  hold  it  thus  in  constrained  position. 


—  123  — 


Horse  lu  ^Tatural  Beauty  lifithout  Cbeck-rein. 


As  will  be  seen  in  the  above,  tlie  liorse,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  animals  in  existence,  is  largely  so,  because  of  its  fine  pro- 
portions and  g-  aceful  curving  outline. 

In  all  her  objects  of  beauty  nature  furnishes  the  curve.  She 
never  allows  a  straight  line.  We  see  this  in  the  outer  form  of  bird, 
leaf,  blossom,  tree,  forest,  mountain  and  planet.  This  is  strikingly 
shown  in  the  human  countenance,  which,  when  wasted  by  disease, 
loses  its  beauty  tlironcrh  becoming  thin,  angular  and  full  of  straight 
lines.  With  returning  health,  the  face  becomes  more  full  and  more 
curved,  and  more  color  comes  into  its  lines  and  beauty  is  restored. 

Horsemen,  in  the  dressing  of  the  horse,  should  understand  this 
law,  as  a  well-cared  for,  Vv^ell-groomed  horse,  cannot  be  improved  in 
appearance  by  harness.  There  should  be  just  as  little  of  it  used  as 
possible,  and  every  strap  should  be  made  as  small  as  safety  would 
allow.  In  short,  the  harness  should  be  such  as  will  allow  the  perfect 
outline  of  the  animal,  in  all  its  parts,  to  stand  freely  forth. 


—  124  — 


Cruelly  Tortnred  by  IIigb*obeokin^. 


To  fully  realize  the  barbarities  practiced  upon  some  of  our  best 
horses,  watch  that  beautiful  team  which  stands  at  the  church  door, 
or  in  front  of  some  store,  while  the  occupants  of  the  carriage  are  en- 
gaged elsewhere. 

Possibly  the  heads  of  the  horses  are  held  in  torturing  positions  by 
the  side  check,  which  oftentimes  holds  them  too  cruelly  high,  l)ut 
Xjuite  likely  it  is  the  over  check.  See  the  vigorous  pawing  of  the 
earth,  the  champing  of  the  bit,  the  throwing  of  the  head,  the  restless 
tarning  of  the  neck  to  one  side  in  order  to  loosen  the  check,  lower 
the  head  and  get  rest. 

See  the  ignorant  driver  perched  on  the  seat,  all  oblivious  to  the 
restlessness  and  frantic  efforts  of  the  horses  to  free  themselves  from 
their  terrible  pain.  He  supposes  spectators  will  think  that,  with  all 
their  restlessness  and  foaming  at  the  mouth,  his  horses  have  high 
mettle. 


—  126  — 


My  idea  as  to  how  horses  should  be  checked,  road  horses  and 
others,  I  positively  condemn  the  overdraw  check,  it  certainly  is, 
and  there  is  no  gainsaying  it,  cruelty  to  animals  to  use  it.  The  only 
utility  I  can  perceive  there  is  in  the  check  at  all  is  to  keep  a  horse 
from  putting  his  nose  to  the  ground  when  he  stops,  and  when  a 
check  is  used,  place  the  loops  high  up  on  the  cheek  pieces  to  the 
head  stall,  as  the  horse  can  in  such  cases  have  the  free  use  of  his 
head,  and  can  handle  himself  with  ease  and  grace.  For  speeding 
horses  it  might  become  necessary  to  use  the  overdraw  in  some  cases, 
but  it  must  be  understood  that  I  hold  firm  to  my  idea  as  to  the 
practicabilty  of  its  general  usefulness. 


Question.  What  do  you  think  of  breeding  draft  horses,  and  the 
care  and  early  training  of  the  colt  ? 

Answer.  It  has  been  the  stupendous  error  of  the  average  farmer 
to  consider  that  any  mare  will  do  to  raise  a  colt  from.  Thousands 
of  worthless  horses  bear  witness  to  the  absurdity  of  this.  The  mare 
should  be,  as  nearly  as  we  can  have  her,  what  we  hope  the  colt  to  be. 
Above  all,  she  must  be  sound  in  feet,  bone  and  wind.     She  should 


—  126  — 

be  rangy  to  have  room  for  the  growth  of  the  foetus,  and  vide  in  the 
hips  to  allow  of  easy  parturition.  The  stallion  should  be  rather 
more  compactly  built  than  the  mare.  "A  short  back  a^d  a  long 
belly,"  is  an  old  and  correct  rule  for  a  serviceable  horse.  It  means 
good  shoulders,  good  withers,  good  back  and  loin,  and  powerful 
quarters.  The  breeder  may  be  assisted  by  giving  some  attention  to 
the  rule,  which  has  many  exceptions,  that  the  male  parent  gives  the 
external,  and  the  female  the  internal  structure ;  that  the  sire  gives  the 
locomotion,  and  the  dam  the  vital  organs,  that  is,  the  constitution. 
The  mule  and  the  hinny  are  striking  illustrations  of  this  rule. 

I  am  decidedly  in  favor  of  autumn  foals.  The  press  of  spring 
work  upon  the  farm  demands  more  service  from  the  foal-bearing 
mare  than  she  should  be  required  to  perform.  The  flies  of  summer 
annoy  and  often  nearly  devour  the  youngster.  Both  dam  and  colt 
often  suffer  from  insufficient  food  in  short  pastures  of  a  drought,  and 
at  length  the  colt  is  weaned  when  the  frost-bitten  grass  has  lost  its 
nutriment,  and  the  increasing  cold  demands  abundant  food.  The 
first  winter  is  a  trying  time  with  colts,  and  many  never  recover  from 
the  injury  they  then  receive  from  insufficient  or  improper  food. 
With  warm  stables  and  comfortable  sheds,  the  autumn  colt  can  suck 
the  well  fed  mare  in  the  winter,  and  be  weaned  upon  fresh  grass  in 
the  spring,  and  never  know  a  check  in  his  growth.  He  is  old  and 
strong  enough  to  withstand  the  attacks  of  flies  in  the  summer, 
and  to  endure  without  injury  the  colds  of  his  second  winter.  He 
should  receive  regular  rations  of  oats  and  wheat  bran  as  soon  as 
he  has  learned  to  eat  along  with  the  mare  when  she  is  taking  her 
feed.  These  can  best  be  given  him  at  a  little  distance  from  the  mare, 
she  being  secured  in  her  place  by  a  halter.  For  the  first  year  he 
should  receive  liberal  allowance  of  these  foods  twice  a  day,  with  such 
mixed  hay  and  pasturage  as  he  can  take  beside.  These  with  linseed 
meal  must  be  the  main  reliance  for  making  him  all  we  hope  him  to 
be.  They  are  rich  in  the  elements  which  make  growth,  and  without 
these  no  perfect  animal  can  be  reared.  Corn  should  never  be  given 
except  in  limited  quantity  in  winter  when  warmth  from  carbo- 
hydrates is  needed.  Where  corn  must  be  fed,  it  should  always  be 
ground  and  mixed  with  finely  cat  clover  hay,  slightly  moistened. 
The  clover  supplies  the  nitrogenous  food  in  which  the  corn  is  so 
deficient,  and  also  gives  the  necessary  bulk  of  proper  digestion  in 


—  127  — 

the  stomach.  It  should  always  be  remembered  that  the  horae  has 
but  one  stomach,  and  that  is  small.  While  on  the  one  hand  this 
cannot  contain  enough  of  coarse  innutritions  food,  like  straw  or  poor 
hay,  to  meet  the  demands  of  subsistence  and  growth,  yet  on  the 
other  the  food  must  be  bulky  enough  to  admit  of  the  speedy  and 
thorough  action  of  the  gastric  juice,  so  that  the  nutritive  portions 
may  be  quickly  dissolved  and  the  refuse  discharged.  Where  corn 
meal  is  fed  alone  it  goes  into  the  stomach  in  the  plastic  condition  of 
dough,  is  there  rolled  about  by  the  muscular  action,  is  as  imper- 
vious to  the  digesting  juices  as  a  ball  of  India  rubber,  and  produces 
fever  and  frequently  serious  colic.  Where  corn  is  largely  fed,  its 
heating  effects  upon  the  blood  are  readily  shown  in  unsoundness  at 
the  extremities.  The  oat  is  a  wholesome  food  when  fed  alone,  be- 
cause nearly  one-third  of  its  bulk  is  husk,  which  makes  the  mass  in 
the  stomach  porous  like  a  sponge.  I  desire  to  repeat  that  mixed 
hay,  with  a  good  proportion  of  clover,  oats,  wheat,  bran  and  linseed 
merJ,  all  containing  albuminoids  which  furnish  the  materials  for 
gro\7th,  must  be  relied  upon  to  develop  a  draft  horse  to  his  true 
proportions.  He  must  never  know  a  hungry  day,  and  he  must  never 
spend  an  hour  shivering  on  the  north  side  of  barn,  waiting  for 
his  food.  While,  on  the  one  hand,  a  stable  may  be  too  warm,  on  the 
other,  every  storm  in  winter  is  too  cold  for  a  steady  and  vigorous 
growth.  An  exposure  to  cold  that  produces  an  active  circulation 
on  the  surf.ice,  and  gives  to  boys  and  girls  bright,  rosy  cheeks,  con- 
duces to  health ;  but  every  exposure  that  chills  the  blood  draws  upon 
the  vital  forces  and  saps  the  foundations  of  the  constitution.  It 
costs  more,  and  costs  double  the  time,  to  regain  a  pound  of  lost 
weight  than  it  does  to  add  five  pounds  in  a  continuous  growth. 

I  am  strongly  in  favor  of  grooming  colts  in  winter,  not  with  the 
expenditure  of  labor  necessary  in  using  the  currycomb  and  brush, 
but  by  a  hasty  rubbing  with  a  stiff  stable  broom.  It  accomplishes 
two  important  results — the  stimulation  of  a  healthful  action  of  the 
skin  and  the  acquaintance  of  the  colt  with  handling  and  with  the 
contact  with  substances  that  otherwise  would  occasion  alarm.  This 
must  be  commenced  with  great  gentleness.  At  no  time  in  his 
growth  should  a  colt  ever  be  frightened.  Unnecessary  fright  ruins 
multitudes  of  liorses.  My  own  colts,  some  of  which  are  highly 
bred,  purposely  for  saddle  horses,  and  are  of  nervous  temperaments, 


—  128  — 

are  daily  treated  to  the  stable-broom  grooming,  to  their  evident  bene- 
fit. Kow  almost  anything  can  be  thrown  against  them,  or  about 
their  legs,  without  occasioning  alarm. 

At  all  ages  colts  should  have  abundant  exercise.  The  pasture  in 
summer,  and  well  enclosed ;  well  shedded  paddocks  in  winter  fur- 
nish the  best  opportunities  for  this.  They  should  be  frequently 
handled  from  the  beginning  by  cool  and  judicious  hands,  ever 
remembering  that,  like  ourselves,  they  can  learn  bat  one  letter  of 
their  alphabet  and  one  step  in  their  knowledge  at  a  time.  Every 
colt,  whatever  his  class,  should  be  broken  to  the  saddle,  because  at 
some  time  in  after  life  he  mast  be  ridden,  and  because  in  no  other 
way  can  he  obtain  such  acquaintance  with  his  master's  will.  The 
colt  reared  for  draft  purposes  can  have  the  walking  gait  developed 
when  under  the  saddle  more  readily  than  in  any  other  way.  This 
should  afterward  be  continued  by  service  beside  a  fast  walking  horse. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  only  add  that  the  expense  of  breaking  a  draft 
horse  is  less,  by  many  times,  than  any  other.  He  sooner  pays  for  his 
keep  by  service  upon  the  farm  than  does  any  other.  When  old 
enough  for  the  market,  he  finds  a  readier  sale  than  doea  any  other, 
and  a  given  number  of  them,  from  ten  to  one  hundred,  taken  to- 
gether, will  sell  for  more  money  than  will  any  equal  number  of  any 
other  class  of  horses  whatsoever.  To-day  the  West  has  almost  a 
monopoly  in  our  country  in  rearing  these  profitable  animals.  The 
agricultural  papers  are  filled  with  advertisements  of  stud  establish- 
ments, their  State  and  county  fairs  find  their  greatest  attractions  in 
their  exhibition,  and  their  farmers  are  rapidly  learning  the  advan- 
tage of  rearing  them.  We  can  surpass  them  if  we  will,  for  our 
situation  and  conditions  are  better  than  theirs.  Oar  farmers  will  do 
well  to  give  early  and  earnest  attention  to  this  important  subject. 

The  Stable. 

This  is  a  very  important  part  of  the  subject,  and  one  which  is  too 
often  neglected  by  people  who  own  horses  and  who  leave  their  gen- 
eral management  to  stable  keepers  or  grooms  often  grossly  neglectful 
or  ignorant.  Many  horses  die  yearly  from  the  neglect  of  their  owners 
to  enforce  the  ordinary  laws  of  health  in  the  stable.  A  site  should 
be  chosen,  nearly  or  quite  as  well  situated  as  that  for  the  dwelling, 


—  129  — 

and  the  stable  may  be,  if  possible,  separate  and  distinct  from  th 
barn  with  advantage.     Hide  it  if  you  like  behind  trees,  but  do  not 
cut  off  the 

Circulation  of  Air. 

A  supply  of  pure  air  is  as  necessary  to  the  life  and  health  of  a 
horse  as  of  man.  In  many  stables  air  is  carelessly  admitted,  and 
blows  either  on  the  head  of  the  horse  or  in  such  a  way  that  cold  and 
cough  is  the  inevitable  result.  The  practice  of  feeding  hay  through 
a  hole  above  the  head  of  the  horse  invites  fatal  results  in  the  way  of 
cold,  not  to  mention  the  possibility  of  hayseed  falling  into  the  eyes 
of  the  horse  when  it  is  looking  up  for  its  food.  An  pposite  error, 
however,  is  to  exclude  every  possible  breath  of  air  and  have  the 
atmosphere  of  the  stable  hot  and  unwholesome.  The  effect  of  several 
horses  being  shut  up  in  one  stable  is  to  render  the  air  anpleasantly 
warm  and  foul.  A  person  coming  from  the  open  air  cannot  breathe 
in  it  many  minutes  without  perspiring.  In  this  temperature  the 
horse  stands,  hour  by  hour,  often  with  a  covering  on.  This  is  sud- 
denly stripped  off,  and  it  is  led  into  the  open  air,  the  temperature  of 
which  is  many  degrees  below  that  of  the  stable.  It  is  true  that  while 
it  is  exercising  it  has  no  need  of  protection,  but,  unfortunately,  it  too 
often  has  to  stand  awaiting  its  master's  convenience,  and  this,  per- 
haps, after  a  brisk  trot  which  has  opened  every  pore,  and  its  suscep- 
tibility to  cold  has  been  excited  to  the  utmost  extent.  In  ventilating 
stables  it  should  never  be  forgotten  that  the  health  of  a  horse  de- 
pends on  an  abundant  supply  of  fresh,  dry  air,  introduced  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  prevent  a  pcssible  chance  of  a  draught  on  any  of  its  in- 
mates. Many  old  stables  may  be  greatly  benefited  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  a  window  or  windows,  which  will  require  but  little  expenditure, 
and  save  many  a  dollar's  worth  of  horseflesh. 

Hay  Tea. 

This  is  also  refreshing  for  a  tired  horse.  Fill  a  pail  with  the  best 
of  clean,  bright  hay,  and  pour  in  as  much  boiling  water  as  the  pail 
will  hold.  Keep  it  covered  and  hot  fifteen  minutes,  turn  off  the 
water  into  another  pail  and  add  a  little  cold  water,  enough  to  make 
a  gallon  and  a-half  or  so,  and  when  cold  feed  it  to  the  horse. 


—  130-^ 

Question.     What  do  you  think  of  having  light  in  the  horse's  stall  ? 

Answer.  Many  horses  are  compelled  to  stand  in  the  stall  where 
there  is  a  window  three  or  four  feet  above  their  heads.  This  I  don't 
approve  of,  as  the  horse  will  naturally  strain  to  look  out  of  the 
window,  and  the  light  coining  so  high  above  h's  head  many  times 
hurts  the  eye-sight  of  the  horse.  I  would  advise  all  to  have  the 
windows  put  at  one  side  of  the  stall,  or  I  would  rather  thoy 
should  be  directly  behind  the  horse.  Always  have  your  stall 
and  stable  well  ventilated,  and  have  it  aired  out  thoroughly  every 
morning  for  at  least  two  hours. 

Question.     What  is  the  best  bedding  to  be  used  for  bedding  horses  ? 

Answer.  I  approve  of  straw,  using  about  on  an  average  of  four 
pounds  per  day.  The  first  bedding  will  require  ten  pounds.  Over 
two  thirds  of  this  can  be  saved  every  morning  and  placed  in  the  sun 
where  it  can  dry,  ready  for  the  bedding  at  night.  Great  economy 
can  be  practiced  in  bedding  horses.  I  don't  approve  of  sawdust  or 
shavings,  as  it  causes  many  diseases  in  the  horse's  feet,  such  as 
thrush  and  other  like  diseases.  I  would  rather,  if  you  cannot  get 
struw  for  your  horse,  to  stand  in  the  summer  time  on  tan  bark. 
And  let  me  say  here,  that,  if  you  have  a  horse  that  has  contracted 
feet,  sore-footed,  or  that  his  tendons  are  diseased,  place  him  in  a  big 
box-stall  bedded  with  nothing  but  tan  bark,  and  you  will  see  an  im- 
provement in  a  very  few  days. 

Question.     What  do  you  think  of  horses  having  proper  exercise  ? 

Answer.  There  are  more  horses  to-day  that  die  from  the  want  of 
not  having  proper  exercise  than  by  any  other  cause.  There  are 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  horses  that  are  owned  by  wealthy  people, 
and  not  having  the  proper  work  for  their  animals  they  are  compelled 
to  stand  in  the  stable  from  one  week  to  anc^her,  being  fed  very  high, 
and  the  result  is  that  the  horse  becomes  stiff,  lazy,  and  of  a  sluggish 
disposition.  A  horse,  in  order  to  be  in  health,  should  have  not  less 
than  five  miles  of  exercise  every  day.  It  matters  not  whether  this  is 
given  in  the  carriage  or  under  the  saddle.  It  is  better  for  our  horse 
to  be  worn  out  than  it  is  to  rust  oat.     Many  times  colic  and  different 


—  131  — 

diseases  originate  from  the  horse  being  over-fed  and  not  having  the 
proper  exercise.  Such  diseases  as  staggers,  fits  and  dummies,  all 
come  from  over-feeding. 

I  could  go  into  quite  a  lengthy  argument  on  the  above  question, 
but  it  is  unnecessary ;  I  only  give  you  this  good  advice.  If  you  can- 
not drive  your  horse  and  give  him  the  proper  exercise,  let  some 
of  your  neighbors  do  it. 

Question,     What  do  you  think  of  bran  mashes  ? 

Ansiver.  Horses  should  have  a  bran  mash  twice  a  week.  In  the 
spring  of  the  year  horses  should  have  a  few  potatoes,  carrots  or  roots 
of  any  kind,  as  it  is  now  known  sufficiently  that  both  contribute  to 
the  strength  and  endurance  of  the  sound  horse,  and  to  the  rapid 
recovery  of  a  sick  one.  A  bushel  of  carrots  and  potatoes  should  be 
fed  the  horse  twice  a  week  during  the  spring  months. 

Question.     How  would  you  clean  a  gray  horse  ? 

Ansiver.  Take  castile  soap  and  add  charcoal,  and  wash  him 
thoroughly ;  this  will  leave  your  horse's  hair  perfectly  white,  the 
charcoal  being  a  great  cleansing  article.  Always  use  the  two 
together. 

Question.     Will  you  give  me  a  few  general  ideas  on  feeding  ? 

Afiswer.  I  will  commence  by  giving  you  my  idea  of  how  horses 
should  be  fed  and  cared  for  through  the  day.  I  will  lay  these  rules 
down  for  general  driving  and  draft  horses.  In  the  morning,  the  first 
thing,  give  your  horse  about  two  quarts  of  w^ater;  following  this 
give  him  some  grain  ;  following  this  give  him  some  hay,  a  very  little, 
not  over  one-half  a  pailful.  After  the  horse  has  eaten  his  grain  and 
hay,  bring  him  out  of  his  stall,  give  him  a  sharp,  quick  grooming, 
and  then  give  him  as  much  water  as  he  wants.  He  is  now  ready  for 
work.  If  you  are  driving  the  horse  upon  the  road,  it  is  the  habit  of 
a  great  many  horsemen  to  continually  keep  watering  their  horses  on 
a  very  warm  day ;  this  I  do  not  approve  of,  unless  you  have  a  pail 
with  you  ;  then  at  about  9  or  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  give  your 
horse  one-half  a  pailful  of  water.    At  noon,  just  before  you  give 


—  132  — 

him  his  dinner  let  him  have  about  a  third  of  a  pailful,  then  feed 
your  grain ;  give  no  hay.  Just  before  you  harness  him  for  his  after- 
noon's work,  let  him  have  what  water  he  may  want.  In  the  after- 
noon's work  follow  the  same  rule  as  for  the  forenoon  as  for  water. 
When  you  have  finished  the  day's  work,  and  are  putting  your  horse 
up  for  the  night,  see  first  that  the  stall  is  well  bedded ;  place  the 
horse  in  his  stall,  give  him  his  grain,  then  take  him  out  and  give 
him  what  water  he  may  need.  When  he  is  drinking  the  water  have 
the  hay  for  the  night  placed  in  the  stall — a  good  quantity.  Your 
horse  is  then  cared  for  and  will  rest  during  the  night. 

Under  no  cir  cum  stances  feed  hay  first  or  with  the  grain.  Always 
give  your  horse  his  hay  afcer  he  has  eaten  up  his  grain.  If  you  will 
follow  the  above  rule  you  never  will  have  a  horse  sick  with  colic. 

Xow,  as  to  feeding ;  I  am  a  great  believer  in  good  oats,  and  then 
they  should  be  all  sifted,  every  particle  of  dust  and  dirt  taken  from 
them,  giving  the  horse  nothing  but  the  clean  oats.  All  hay,  when 
pitched  down  from  the  mow  or  taken  from  the  bale,  should  be  shook 
with  the  fork  and  every  particle  of  dust  and  chaff  shaken  from  it. 
In  this  way  your  horse  gets  clean  and  wholesome  food,  and  then  he 
is  not  pulling  his  hay  out,  or  he  is  not  wasting  his  oats,  but  he  is  at 
all  times  ready  to  eat  his  meals  as  they  are  placed  before  him  in  an 
eatable  form.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  grain  wasted  by  the  careless- 
ness of  man. 

A  book  conld  be  written  on  the  manner  of  feeding,  but  I  don't 
think  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  speak  on  this  subject,  only  of  the 
general  principles,  and  leave  the  rest  to  you  and  your  good  judgment. 

I  might  add  that  I  do  not  recommend  the  feeding  of  corn  unless 
gi'ound  together  with  oats  in  equal  proportion.  There  are  many 
dummies  and  horses  with  staggers,  and  horses  that  die  with  colic  in 
our  Western  States  caused  entirely  by  the  great  amount  of  corn  that 
is  fed  to  them.  Many  old  horses  cannot  masticate  this  corn,  and 
the  result  is  that  it  is  not  digested.  So  give  your  horse  good  pure 
oats,  and  good  bright  hay,  and  pure  water.  I  would  recommend  the 
use  of  soft  water  from  brooks  and  mill  streams.  When  this  cannot 
be  had,  and  you  have  to  draw  the  water  from  a  well,  let  it  stand  in  a 
trough  or  tub  one  hour  before  letting  your  horse  di'ink.  Many  say 
that  muddy  water  or  any  kind  of  water  from  a  muddy  pool  is  good, 
but  don't  ask  your  horse  to  drink  what  you  would  not  drink  yourself. 


—  133  — 


Khowing:  Horse  Eatiugr  from  a  Hig-ti  Rack  or  Manger,  an  Unnatural 

Position. 


Question.     "What  do  you  think  of  horses  eating  from  high  mangers  ? 

Answer.  It  is  the  practice  of  almost  every  horse  owner  to  compel 
his  horse  to  eat  from  high  racks  or  mangers.  This  is  something  that 
I  do  not  approve  of,  as  it  is  unnatural  for  a  horse  to  reach  up  after 
his  food.  In  the  first  place,  all  the  chaff,  hayseed,  dirt,  etc.,  are 
liable  to  get  into  his  eyes  and  ears,  and  many  times  when  horses  are 
fed  their  grain  they  eat  it  so  fast  that  they  do  not  masticate  it  prop- 
erly, and  the  result  is  that  their  digestive  organs  have  to  perform 
what  their  teeth  ought  to  do. 

Take  and  turn  your  horse  out  into  a  field,  or  say  on  the  side  of  a 
hill,  and  you  will  never  see  him  feeding  up  the  hill ;  he  will  always 
feed  sideways  of  the  hill  or  down  the  hill.  I  claim  that  many  horses 
are  made  sprung  knee,  stiff  necked,  many  times  come  out  of  the  stable 
acting  as  though  they  wer>  foundered,  caused  from  the  continual 
strain  of  standing  and  reaching  up  for  feed,  which  is  positively  un- 


—  134  — 

natural  for  all  dumb  animals.  Think  of  yourself  getting  your  break- 
fast  reaching  three  feet  above  your  head  for  ev3ry  mouthful  that  you 
get.  It  would  be  more  pleasant  and  you  would  r  Jish  your  meal  more 
by  having  the  food  placed  one  or  two  feet  below  your  mouth.  I  ap- 
prove of  having  all  horses  fed  in  the  following  manner :  Take  your 
mangers  and  racks  entirely  out  of  the  stall ;  feed  the  hay  from  tlie 
floor  even  with  your  horse's  feet.     In  giving  grain  have  a  box  made 


yf/^e^triBS  ev. 


Horse  Eating- his  Food  from  the  tfronnd,  as  Xatnre  intended.    The  only 
Proper  Way  to  Feed  the  Horse. 


movable,  and  place  the  grain  in  i^his  box,  and  let  the  horse  eat  that 
from  even  with  his  feet.  He  eats  his  grain  slow,  masticating  it  prop- 
erly, and  the  result  is  that  while  you  hc^v^  had  to  give  your  horse 
twelve  quprts  of  grain  in  feeding  from  a  high  mangr- ,  nine  quarts 
fed  from  even  with  his  feet  will  keep  him  in  better  condition  than 
the  twelve  quarts  fed  from  the  manger ;  and  I  :hink  th..t  you  will 
soon  find  out  that  my  idea  will  save  ten  per  cent,  of  fuod  v..  one  year. 


—  135  — 


GLimoi^'^  rujLi  ©uTfij? 


^^ 


FOR  HANDLING 

A  VICIOUS  HORSE 


i 


i^atsi^^ 


m 

M 

fa 


This  Kng^ravin^  shows  a  Full  Outfit,  as  nse«t  by 

O.  R.  Cileason  in  J[an(lliu<^  all  Horses 

of  Vicious  Habits. 


How  to  Make  My  Surcingle. 

In  order  to  make  my  surcingle,  have  a  piece  of  leather  eight  feet 
long,  Jour  inches  wide,  with  rings  upon  it  six  inches  apart,  having  it 
60  that  when  it  is  huckled  on  the  horse  that  two  rings  will  be  directly 


—  136  — 

under  liis  body  with  one  ring  on  eacli  side  of  him  and  three  rings 
on  the  top  of  the  surcingle;  one  of  these  surcingles  will  be  very  use- 
ful and  should  hang  in  every  stable. 

To  Educate  Horses  Not  to  be  Afraid  of  Objects  when 

Drving. 

It  is  impoc.-ble  to  overestim.ie  the  value  of  the  subjoined  instruc- 
tions respecting  nerv  us  and  3hying  horses,  therefore  on  this  topic  I 
wish  to  be  particularly  clear  and  explicit.  Let  the  reader  understand 
that  horses  take  fright  at  objects  because  they  fancy  that  those 
objects  will  harm  them,  and  if  you  can  by  any  means  appeal  to  the 
horse's  braili,  and  satisfy  him  that  he  i:  not  going  to  be  hurt,  you 
have  accomplished  your  object.  And  in  order  to  do  so  you  must 
have  control  of  your  hors?.  I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  you  are  to 
adopt  the  too  frequent  course  pursued  by  many,  viz :  subduing  with 
th^  wliip,  or  other  harsh  means,  which  will,  without  almost  an  ex- 
ception, increase  the  fear  inste.id  of  removing  the  habit.  Again, 
when  a  horse  shies,  the  driver  commences  to  jerk  on  the  reins  nearest 
to  the  object,  and  at  once  applies  the  whip,  fully  determined  to 
master  his  horse.  Both  man  and  horse  get  excited,  and  the  horse 
comes  off  victorious,  because  he  cannot  control  him  by  the  means 
used,  and  the  result  is  that  the  next  time  the  animal  is  frightened  it 
bears  a  two-fold  character — the  fear  of  the  object  and  the  fear  of  the 
whip  punishment. 

It  is  generally  a  crude  habit  of  many  persons  when  di'iving  a 
horse  past  an  object  of  which  he  is  afraid  to  begin  with  "  whoa,  boy  I 
whoa,  boy  !  whoa,  boy !"  and  wlien  the  horse  has  passed  the  object, 
to  take  the  whip  and  lash  him  with  it,  and  say  "  I  will  learn  you  to 
shy,^  &c.  Xow  when  this  treatment  is  pursued,  I  claim  the  horse 
believes  that  the  object  that  he  was  afraid  of  inflicted  the  pain,  and 
consequently  he  is  made  worse  instead  of  better.  Isow  my  theory  is 
to  use  the  whip  gently  when  approaching  the  object,  and  compel  him 
to  walk  right  up  to  it,  aiid  let  him  smell  of  it,  stopping  him,  show- 
ing him  that  it  will  not  hurt  him. 

Only  use  the  whip  when  you  give  the  word  of  command,  speaking 
with  force  and  distinction,  as  I  believe  nine-tenths  of  our  runaways 


—  137  — 

are  due  more  to  the  one  driving  him,  than  to  the  horse  himsolf. 
The  horse  is  a  cunning  animal  and  sizes  up  his  driver  with  the  ra- 
pidity of  thought,  and  when  he  is  fully  aware  that  his  driver  is  afraid 
of  him,  he  takes  advantage  of  it  and  runs  away.  If  my  instruc- 
tions are  fully  carried  out  by  my  readers,  as  to  the  thorough  way  as 
herein  laid  down,  I  am  positively  certain  there  will  be  no  runaways. 

Question,     How  would  you  throw  a  horse  down  and  hold  him 
after  throwing? 

Answer,    Put  on  your  horse  a  good  strong  halter ;  take  a  strap  with 
a  ring  in  it  and  buckle  around  your  horse's  off  front  limb,  below  the 


First  Position  Taken  in  Throwing  a  Horse. 


fetlock  joint;  take  a  rope  eight  feet  long  and  tie  into  this  strap; 
place  a  surcingle  around  the  horse's  body ;  take  your  position  on 
the  nigh  side  of  the  horse,  bring  the  rope  over  the  horse's  back  from 


—  138  — 

the  off  side,  taking  hold  of  the  rope  with  your  right  hand,  pull  his 
foot  to  his  body;  take  a  firm  hold  of  this,  holding  the  foot  in  this 
position ;  then  take  hold  of  the  horse's  halter  with  your  left  hand, 
pull  his  head  to  you  and  press  against  his  body  with  your  elbow, 
ujjing  the  words  *' lie  down."  The  majority  of  horses  you  can  throw 
in  a  minute,  while  others  may  fight  you  for  three  or  four  minutes, 
but  you  will  soon  master  them  and  they  will  have  to  come  down. 


Second  Position  in  Throwing  a  Horse. 


As  soon  as  the  animal  has  been  thrown,  take  the  rope  that  is  under- 
neath him,  bring  it  under  the  surcingle  and  place  it  through  the 
ring  of  the  halter,  back  under  the  surcingle  again,  and  here  you 
have  the  rope  to  bring  his  head  to  his  shoulder ;  make  him  put  his 
head  down  to  the  ground,  and  then  if  you  want  to  rattle  pans  or 
shake  bufialo  robes  around  him,  and  he  makes  any  attempt  to  get  up, 
ptill  his  head  up  immediately,  which  will  prevent  him  from  doing 
so;  then  take  a  whip  and  crack  it  around  him;  give  him  to  thor- 


—  139  — 

oughly  understand  that  you  are  his  master.  I  am  a  great  believer  in 
throwing  horses,  and  would  recommend  that  every  horse  should  h(^ 
thrown,  fvr  this  reason,  that  it  takes  the  conceit  out  of  them,  and 
gives  them  to  understand  that  man  has  more  power  than  they  have. 
If  used  by  men  of  good  judgment  and  patience,  all  young  horses  can 
be  thoroughly  brought  under  control  by  this  manner  of  handling. 


TliJrtl  Position  iu  Throwinsr  a  Horse. 


Place  a  surcingle  around  the  horse's  body,  buckle  hame  strap 
around  off  fetlock  joint,  take  rope  eight  feet  long,  tie  one  end  in 
strap  on  off  foot,  pass  the  rope  over  horse's  back  from  the  off  side. 
Stand  on  near  side  of  horse,  grasp  rope  with  right  hand  and  pull 
foot  to  the  body.  With  the  left  hand  take  hold  of  the  halter  and 
pull  his  head  to  you,  press  right  elbow  against  his  flank,  and  he 
must  lie  down. 

The  rope  is  now  under  the  horse's  body.  Put  the  end  of  rope 
through  the  ring  in  the  halter,  then  through  the  ring  in  the  surcin- 
gle on  the  horse's  back.  Then  take  your  position  at  the  horse's  back 
as  seen  in  engraving.     You  can  prevent  him  from  getting  up  by  pull- 


—  140  — 

ing  his  head  to  his  shoulder.  If  the  horse  is  nervous  and  excitable, 
have  3'our  assistants  crack  the  whip,  rattle  tin  paas  and  shoot  fire- 
arms around  him,  until  he  will  lie  perfectly  quiet,  with  his  head 
resting  on  the  ground.  In  order  to  familiarize  your  horse  to  all  ob- 
jects of  which  he  is  afraid,  repeat  this  lesson  once  a  day  for  three  or 
four  days.  I  would  recommend  that  every  horse  should  be  thrown, 
as  it  takes  the  conceit  out  of  him. 


Fourth  Position  in  Tbrowing:  and  Sho^nin^  the  Horse  Down. 


Question.    How  do  you  make  your  surcingle,  and  what  will  it  cost  ? 

Answer.  My  surcingle  that  I  use  in  all  of  my  exhibitions  is  eight 
feet  long,  and  around  the  horse's  body  four  inches  wide,  with  a  three- 
inch  buckle,  and  the  part  of  the  surcingle  that  goes  through  the 
buckle  two  and  one-half  inches  wide.  When  the  surcingle  is  on 
the  horse  the  buckle  comes  right  on  the  side  of  the  animal,  under- 
neath the  horse's  body.  There  are  four  two-inch  rings,  one  on  each 
side,  one  underneath,  and  on  the  top  of  the  surcingle  a  ring.  These 
rings  underneath  the  horse's  body  are  used  for  the  working  of  my 


—  141  — 

double  safety  rope ;  the  rings  on  the  side  of  the  surcingle  are  used 
for  the  reins  to  pass  through  ;  the  ring  on  the  top  of  the  surcingle 
is  used  to  pass  tlie  ropa  through  and  hold  the  horse  down  after  you 
have  thrown  him.  This  surcingle  is  a  very  handy  thing  for  every- 
one to  have,  and  any  man  that  has  a  number  of  horses  to  handle  or 
break  should  not  be  without  one. 


Proper  Halter  to  be  Used  in  Throwinji^  a  Ticions  Horse. 


They  are  very  handy  to  have  in  the  stable  in  case  of  a  sick  horse 
or  any  surgical  operation  that  you  may  wish  to  perform. 

They  should  cost  you  about  $5.50,  according  to  the  material  that 
you  have  in  it.  This  surcingle  I  use  when  1  throw  the  horse.  Every 
horseman  should  have  one. 


—  142  — 

If  in  throwing  a  horse  you  find  it  requires  too  much  strength,  the 
horse  being  too  large  or  fights  too  hard,  when  using  my  method  of 
drawing  up  one  foot,  I  would  suggest  the  appliance  of  my  double 
safety  strap.  Buckle  the  strap  around  each  front  limb  below  the 
fetlock  joint.  Take  a  strap  twenty  feet  long,  snapping  to  strap  on 
nigh  front  limb,  place  through  the  ring  in  surcingle  underneath  his 
body,  draw  through  ring  on  off  front  limb  and  back  through  ring  in 
surcingle.  ISTow  take  hold  of  strap  with  right  hand,  take  the  halter 
in  left  hand.  Your  horse  is  standing  on  three  legs.  Now  pull  him 
to  you,  and  when  he  makes  a  move,  you  pull  the  strap  and  raise  the 
other  leg;  this  brings  him  to  his  knees,  Xow  pull  his  head  around 
to  you,  and  the  horse  will  gently  fall  upon  his  right  side.  This  is 
the  safest  and  best  method  of  throwing  a  horse  I  know  of,  there  being 
no  danger  of  hurting  either  horse  or  man. 

You  Must  Educate  Your  Horse. 

Educate  and  teach  hini  as  you  would  a  child,  and  thus  make  him 
more  useful  and  valuable  to  man.  The  horse  is  an  animal  of  no 
little  intelligence,  docility  and  faithfulness,  qualities  which  would 
be  more  generally  apparent  were  it  not  for  the  cruel  treatment  so 
commonly  practiced  in  breaking  him.  Have  patience  with  him,  and 
practice  good  judgment  and  common  sense  in  handling  liim.  Un- 
derstand before  you  commence  to  drive  him  that  he  is  a  dumb  brute, 
and  as  he  cannot  talk  he  will  watch  your  every  movement.  A  finely- 
bred  horse  is  as  sensitive  as  a  well-bred  person,  and  you  should  not 
halloo,  whip  or  spur  him  as  you  would  an  old  dung-hill  of  a  brute. 

The  whip  is  a  very  good  thing,  but  should  only  be  used  in  its 
place,  which  I  will  give  you  a  little  illustration  of  here.  If  you  are 
driving  along  the  road  and  your  horse  shies  at  a  covered  wagon  or  a 
bicycle  or  a  vv'hite  dog,  or  anything  that  excites  his  fright  and  causes 
him  to  shy,  do  not  wait  until  he  gets  by  and  then  up  and  whip  him 
for  the  next  fifteen  minutes,  but  when  he  discovers  it,  take  the  lines 
in  the  left  hand  and  the  whip  in  the  right,  and  when  he  makes  his 
first  shy  give  him  a  sharp  crack  of  the  whip,  at  the  same  time  say- 
ing "  take  care,  sir ;  what  do  you  mean  ?"  Don't  talk  as  though  you 
were  half  asleep,  but  as  if  you  meant  just  what  you  said.  Keep  both 
eyes  open  and  don't  whip  him  as  though  you  were  trying  only  to  kill 


—  143  — 

a  fly  on  his  back.    Never  strike  a  blow  with  a  whip  unless  the  voice 
accompanies  it ;  the  word  and  blow  should  go  together. 

One  failing  the  horse-owners  have  is  they  do  not  talk  to  their  horses 
enough.  If  a  horse  starts  and  runs  you  will  stay  in  the  carriage  and 
not  open  your  mouth,  but  sit  pulling  on  the  reins.  You  should 
speak  to  the  horse,  and  if  he  is  afraid  of  anything  tell  him  to  "take 
care,  etc.,  it  is  not  going  to  hurt  you ;"  the  same  time  crack  the  whip  to 
draw  his  attention.  As  a  horse  cannot  think  of  two  things  at  once, 
the  consistency  of  this  is  of  course  apparent. 

Bad  Biters. 

If  the  horse  is  a  stallion  with  a  confirmed  habit  of  biting  and 
striking,  I  should  not  think  it  worth  my  while  to  attempt  to  cure 
him,  but  should  castrate  him  at  once.  You  are  always  in  risk  of 
your  life  or  limb  while  you  have  such  an  animal  about.  If  a  mare  or 
gelding,  put  on  the  Gleason  bridle,  and  watch  him  closely,  in  a  sly  way, 
not  letting  him  know  you  are  watching  him,  but  when  he  attempts 
to  bite  give  him  a  few  severe  pulls  upon  the  bridle.  Do  this  in  such 
places  as  he  is  most  likely  to  bite,  and  we  will  warrant  that  a  few 
efforts  will  teach  your  animal  that  his  jaws  were  not  made  to  bite 
his  keeper.  To  prevent  a  stallion  from  biting  his  mate  when 
hitched  up  double,  attach  an  independent  line  to  the  outside  ring  of 
his  bit,  letting  it  hang  loosely,  the  end  being  held  by  the  driver. 
As  he  attempts  to  bite,  pull  up  sharply,  and  hit  him  severely  with 
the  whip. 

Question.     How  would  you  handle  a  vicious,  biting  stallion  ? 

Answer.  The  first  thing  I  should  do  with  him  would  be  to  throw 
him  four  or  five  times.  When  the  horse  is  down  handle  his  head, 
open  his  mouth  and  handle  his  mouth.  Put  on  the  ^'Gleason  Bridle^^ 
take  the  whip  in  your  right  hand,  cord  in  the  left,  and  give  him  a 
thorough  handling  with  this  bridle,  teaching  him  to  stop  when  you 
say,  "Whoa,"  and  turn  right  and  left  quickly  at  the  word  of  com- 
mand. I  have  handled  a  great  number  of  vicious,  biting  stallions 
by  the  use  of  gunpowder,  using  revolvers  holding  thirty-eight  blank 
cartridges.     The  moment  the  horse  comes  near  you,  or  makes  an  at- 


—  144  — 

tempt  to  bite  you,  discharge  the  revolver  directly  in  front  of  him, 
which  frightens  the  animal  and  gives  him  such  a  sudden  shock  that 
it  makes  him  afraid  to  bite  you.  All  vicious^  biting  stallions  should 
be  watched  closely,  and  never  trusted,  as  I  believe  an  old  biting 
horse  can  never  be  broken  of  the  habit  so  everybody  can  handle  him. 

Question.     How  do  you  educate  a  bad  shier  ? 

Answer,  In  educating  a  bad  shier  I  put  on  my  double  safety 
strap,  which  is  a  surcingle,  around  his  body,  a  strap  buckled  around 
each  front  foot  below  each  fetlock  joint,  then  tal^e  a  strap  twenty 
feet  long,  tie  one  end  of  that  strap  into  ring  on  nigh  front  limb, 
bring  over  surcingle  under  the  horse's  body  down  to  ring  on  off 
front  limb,  back  over  the  ring  in  the  surcingle.  Put  on  open  bridle 
and  straight  bar  bit,  run  the  lines  through  ring  on  side  of  surcingle, 
then  take  and  teach  the  horse  the  word  "whoa"  thoroughly,  to  "get 
up"  by  word  of  command  and  to  back  by  word  of  command ;  then 
throw  papers  at  him,  blankets,  buffalo  robes ;  roll  barrels  around 
him,  wave  flags  over  his  head.  If  he  makes  any  attempt  to  get  away 
pull  your  safety  strap  and  bring  him  to  both  knees  and  hold  him 
there.  As  soon  as  he  becomes  quiet  let  him  up  on  his  feet ;  crack 
the  whip  around  him,  and  in  fact  give  him  to  thoroughly  understand 
that  these  objects  are  perfectly  harmless.  After  giving  the  horse 
two  lessons  he  is  ready  to  drive  on  the  street. 

Question.     How  would  you  educate  a  bad  runaway  horse  ? 
A?is7iier.     The  same  treatment  as  a  bad  shier,  only  more  severe. 

Questio7i.  How  would  you  educate  and  break  a  horse  from  run- 
ning backwards  with  a  wagon  ? 

Answer.  Put  on  my  double  safety  strap,  harness  your  horse  up 
to  the  wagon,  get  into  the  wagon,  take  the  lines  in  the  right  hand 
and  the  safety  rope  in  the  left ;  you  say  "back"  to  the  horse.  When 
he  has  backed  as  far  as  you  wish  him  to,  say  "whoa,"  and  pull  the 
safety  rope,  which  prevents  him  from  backing  any  further.  After 
giving  three  or  four  lessons  in  this  manner  the  horse  will  under- 
stand what  you  mean  by  "back,"  and  when  you  say  "whoa"  will 
immediately  stop. 


-145  — 

How  to  Drive  a  Horse  up  to  Objects  that  he  is  Afraid  of. 

A  practical  way  of  driving  a  horse  up  to  an  object  that  he  is  afraid 
of  is ;  Take  the  whip  in  your  right  hand,  the  lines  in  the  left;  when 
you  are  within  ten  or  fifteen  feet  of  tlie  object,  speak  to  your  horse 
sharp  and  firmly,  using  about  this  language :  *'Get  up  there,  sir,  what 
is  the  matter  with  you  ;  that  won't  hurt  you;"  at  the  same  moment 
hitting  him  one  severe  cut  with  the  whip;  but  do  not  repeat  the 
blow  unless  it  is  necessary  to  hold  him  at  his  post.  The  moment 
that  you  have  driven  him  up  to  the  object  he  is  afraid  of,  stop  him, 
get  out  of  your  wagon  and  caress  him,  teach  him  that  he  is  not  go- 
ing to  be  harmed,  and  by  all  means  let  him  walk  away  from  the  ob- 
ject, never  letting  him  go  faster  than  a  walk. 

This  same  rule  is  laid  down  for  saddle  horses. 

Question.     How  would  you  stop  a  runaway  horse  ? 

Answer.  Always,  when  driving,  hold  your  reins  firmly,  whether 
the  horse  is  vicious  or  not;  you  should  at  all  times  be  on  your  guard,  as 
they  are  never  to  be  trusted.  If  your  horse  should  take  fright  and 
start  to  run  away,  take  a  firm  hold  of  the  left  line  with  your  left 
hand,  reach  down  upon  the  right  line  with  your  right  hand  and  say 
"  whoa,"  sharp,  and  pull  the  line  quickly  at  the  same  time  that 
you  give  the  command,  but  do  not  move  the  left  line ;  this  at  once 
pulls  your  horse's  head  around  to  his  side,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten 
will  bring  him  to  a  stand-still ;  never  see-saw  the  reins  or  pull  up- 
on both  lines,  as  you  have  no  power  then  to  stop  the  animal.  Never 
jump  from  the  carriage,  as  more  lives  are  lost  and  more  limbs  broken 
by  being  frightened  and  jumping  from  the  carriage  when  the  horse 
is  running  away.  Keep  cool  and  you  will  control  the  horse  easily 
by  following  above  directions. 

Qicestion.     How  would  you  drive  a  lugger  or  puller  on  the  bit  ? 

Answer,  I  would  use  a  plain  straight  bar  bit  wound  with  rubber 
or  leather,  doing  away  with  the  check  rein.  It  is  necessary  in  order 
to  drive  a  lugger  successfully  to  give  him  three  or  four  lessons  on  the 
word  "  whoa  "  and  the  word  "  steady ; "  teach  him  that  when  you 


—  146  — 

say  "  steady  "  it  is  to  slack  up  in  speed,  but  when  you  say  "  whoa,^ 
it  is  for  him  to  stop. 

See  that  his  teeth  are  not  sharp,  and  if  they  are,  have  them  fixed 
at  once.  There  is  no  law  that  can  be  laid  down  for  the  driving  of  a 
lugger  only  to  use  as  gentle  and  soft  bits  as  possible. 

Question.  How  do  you  educate  or  break  a  vicious  kicking  horse  so 
he  will  drive  gentle  and  be  fit  for  family  use  ? 

Answe)-.  In  the  first  place  take  your  horse  out  on  a  soft  place,  or 
on  the  plowed  ground,  and  throw  him  down  by  working  as  follows : 
Put  a  surcingle  around  his  body  ;  take  a  strap  and  buckle  around 
the  off  front  limb,  below  the  fetlock  joint ;  take  a  rope  eight  feet 
long  and  tie  into  that  strap,  bring  it  up  over  the  horse's  back  ;  you 
stand  on  the  nigh  side  of  the  horse  and  take  hold  of  this  rope  with 


O.  R.  Gleasou's  Double  Safety  Strap. 


your  right  hand  and  pull  his  foot  to  his  body ;  then  you  take  hold 
of  the  halter  with  the  left  hand  and  pull  his  head  around  to  you, 
placing  your  right  elbow  against  the  horse's  side,  using  the  words 
"lie  down."  He  may  fight  for  three  or  four  minutes,  but  if  you 
hold  to  his  head  and  keep  it  pulled  around  to  you  he  must  go  down ; 
after  he  has  been  thrown,  then  take  the  rope  and  run  it  through  the 
ring  in  the  surcingle  at  his  back,  through  the  halter,  back  through 
the  ring  in  the  surcingle,  then  you  take  hold  of  the  rope  and  if  he 


~  147  — 

goes  to  get  up  pull  the  rope,  and  this  brings  his  head  to  his  shoulder 
and  prevents  him  from  getting  up ;  then  take  tin  pans,  bells,  rattle 
them  all  around  him,  then  you  can  let  him  up ;  then  you  take  and 
put  on  an  ordinary  open  bridle,  straight  bar  bit,  using  the  pad  of 
your  harness,  run  the  rings  through  the  thill  straps,  then  put  on  my 
double  safety  strap,  which  goes  as  follows: 

Buckle  the  strap  around  each  front  limb  below  the  fetlock  joint, 
take  a  strap  twenty  feet  long  and  snap  in  strap  on  nigh  front  limb, 
place  through  ring  in  surcingle  underneath  his  body  ;  draw  through 
ring  on  off  front  limb  back  through  ring  in  surcingle;  step  back 
behind  the  horse  and  take  reins  in  right  hand,  pull  on  the  left  hand 
and  commence  to  drive  him  ;  every  time  he  kicks  bring  him  to  his 
knees ;  then  take  a  back  strap,  attach  to  the  reins  with  crouper  and 
fasten  on  to  that  bells  and  one-half  dozen  tin  pans,  a  bundle  of  straw, 
and  drive  him  around  with  these  articles  hitting  his  heels  ;  have  an- 
other man  take  a  pole  ten  feet  long  and  rattle  these  pans  and  bells ; 
carry  the  pole  in  front  of  the  horse's  limbs,  and  back  behind  his 
limbs,  and  every  time  he  makes  an  attempt  to  kick  bring  him  to  his 
knees,  using  the  command  "  take  care,  there,  sir  ;"  speak  this  very 
sharply  and  firmly ;  give  him  two  lessons  each  day,  each  lesson  not 
to  be  over  one  hour  in  length,  and  in  five  days  your  horse  is  thor- 
oughly broke  and  will  be  gentle  to  drive  to  the  carriage. 

When  working  the  horse,  always  use  him  on  the  soft  ground  where 
there  are  no  stones ;  always  use  knee  protectors,  as  this  guards 
against  any  accident  happening. 

Question.     How  would  you  break  a  bad  balker  ? 

Answer.  There  are  three  or  four  kinds  of  balky  horses ;  some 
are  nervous  and  excitable,  while  others  seem  to  have  no  ambition 
whatever.  A  dead-lifed  balky  horse,  to  my  knowledge,  is  not  worth 
breaking.  All  high-lifed  balky  horses  can  be  brought  under  per- 
fect control  and  thoroughly  broke  by  following  these  directions : 

Take  your  horse  out  and  throw  him  repeatedly  fifteen  or  twenty 
times;  then  put  on  the  bridle  and  the  harness,  running  the  lines 
through  the  thill  strap  and  telling  him  to  "get  up,"  and  stop  and 
back  by  the  word  of  command.  Teach  him  this  thoroughly  before 
you  place  him  before  the  wagon.    If  he  will  not  move  forward 


—  148  — 


when  you  give  him  the  word,  take  a  rope  or  a  strap  twenty  feet  long, 
tie  around  his  neck,  and  then  place  through  his  mouth,  making  a 
half  hitch  on  his  lower  jaw,  having  one  of  your  men  standing  di- 
rectly in  front  of  the  horse  with  this  rope  in  his  hand,  which  I  term 
as  a  guy  line.  When  you  give  the  word  "get  up,''  let  him  pull  this 
rope  at  the  same  time,  which  will  move  the  horse  forward  quickly. 
Kow  understand  that  the  command  and  the  pull  of  the  rope  must 


both  take  place  at  the  same  time,  in  order  for  you  to  have  success. 
Practice  this  two  days,  not  making  the  lessons  over  one  hour  in 
length,  then  hitching  him  to  a  light  vehicle,  first  working  with  your 
horse  quietly  and  afterwards  giving  him  to  understand  what  you 
want  him  to  do.  ISTever  make  any  false  motion,  never  lose  your 
temper,  and  always  have  plenty  of  patience,  and  you  will  meet  with 
victory. 

All  Grades  of  Balky  Horses. 

I  am  asked  the  question  almost  every  day,  "can  you  break  a  balky 
horse  ?"     Yes.     "Can  you  break  a  balky  horse  so  anybody  can  drive 


—  149  — 


him  ?"  No.  "Why  ?"  Because  it  is  impossible  for  me  or  any  other 
man  to  break  all  the  balky  drivers  in  the  land.  Now  there  are  many 
grades  of  balky  horses.  It  is  a  habit  of  a  great  many  persons,  when 
breaking  a  colt,  to  hitch  him  up  first  beside  of  an  old  farm  horse 
that  is  lazy,  blind  in  one  eye,  and  so  old  that  he  is  deaf.  When  you 
have  got  this  nervous,  excitable  colt  harnessed  beside  the  old,  slow 
horse,  you  then  take  up  the  lines  and  ask  your  team  to  go.  The  colt 
plunges  ahead,  the  old  horse  having  spent  many  days  in  the  harness, 
takes  life  very  easy  and  gradually  gets  in  motion.  The  colt  comes 
back,  the  load  don't  move.  The  next  time  you  ask  them  to  go  the 
old  horse  moves  ahead,  the  colt  sits  back  in  the  breeching.  "Ha  ! 
ha  I "  your  neighbor  says,  "  got  a  balky  colt  there."  Not  at  all.  You 
certainly  will  have  if  you  persist  in  your  present  course.  Take  him 
out  of  the  double  harness,  break  him  to  drive  single,  and  you  will 
have  no  trouble  with  him,  single  or  double. 

In  handling  a  balky  horse  of  long  standing,  one  that  has  been 
spoiled  by  mismanagement,  it  is  advisable  to  first  throw  him  four  or 
five  times.  Then  put  your  harness  on  with  an  open  bridle,  running 
the  lines  through  the  thill  straps,  get  behind  him  with  a  good  whip, 
and  teach  him  the  words  "get  up."  At  the  same  time  that  you  give 
him  the  command  to  move  forward,  hit  him  a  cut  with  the  whip, 
showing  him  that  that  means  "move  forward."  Work  with  him  in 
this  manner  for  three  or  four  lessons.  Yoa  then  tie  a  rope  in  the 
traces,  carrying  it  around  your  back,  and  teach  him  to  pull  your 
weight,  walking  behind  him.  When  you  have  got  him  so  that  he 
will  turn  right  and  left  quickly,  stop  at  the  word  "whoa,"  get  up 
at  the  word  and  pull  your  weight,  you  can  hitch  him  to  a  light  road 
cart,  getting  into  the  wagon,  giving  him  the  word  "get  up,  sir."  If 
he  should  fail  to  go,  have  your  assistant  take  a  rope  twenty  feet  long 
tie  it  around  his  neck,  pass  it  through  his  mouth,  back  through 
the  cord  that  you  pass  through  his  mouth,  making  a  half  hitch  on 
the  lower  jaw.  Let  your  assistant  stand  directly  in  front  of  the 
horse  with  the  rope  being  slack.  Hold  your  whip  in  the  right  hand, 
when  you  are  ready  to  go  give  the  word,  and  the  man  pulls  the  rope 
and  you  hit  the  horse  with  the  whip,  all  at  the  same  moment.  If  he 
don't  move  forward  then,  let  the  party  who  holds  the  rope  step  to 
the  right  and  left,  jerking  his  head  until  he  moves  forward,  you  using 
the  words  at  each  and  every  time,  "get  up,  sir."    Give  him  a  few 


—  150  — 

lessons  for  three  or  four  days  in  this  manner,  and  in  the  majority  oi 
cases  you  have  got  a  horse  that  will  pull. 

There  are  other  balky  horses  that  it  is  necessary  to  throw  and  give 
a  good  whipping.  This  character  of  a  horse  is  generally  of  a  slug- 
gish disposition,  and  the  only  way  that  you  can  get  it  to  go  will  be 
to  frighten  it  with  the  whip.  I  had  one  horse  that  I  could  not  work 
by  any  other  means  than  as  follows:  I  hitched  him  to  a  wagon  and 
asked  him  to  go,  but  he  would  not  even  straighten  the  traces.  I  got 
a  man  to  take  a  good  whalebone  whip  and  stand,  at  the  side  of  the 
horse  and  whip  him  over  the  end  of  the  nose.  This  I  kept  up  for 
about  ten  minutes,  just  as  hard  as  he  could  whip  him.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  Mr.  Horse  got  sick  of  balking  and  has  never  balked 
from  that  day. 

There  are  other  horses  that  it  will  be  necessary  to  handle  in  a 
more  quiet  manner,  but  in  some  cases  you  must  use  the  whip  to 
get  the  animal  frightened,  so  that  when  you  speak  to  him  he  knows 
that  he  must  move  forward.  When  workiug  a  horse  you  must  not 
leave  him  until  you  conquer  him,  if  it  takes  twenty-four  hours. 
But  understand  me  correctly,  don't  lose  your  temper,  don't  use  a 
club,  don't  kick  him ;  use  a  good  whip.  Be  careful  and  not  hit  him 
on  the  body  or  in  the  eyes.  Use  the  whip  on  his  legs  and  on  his 
nose.  I  have  started  a  great  many  balky  horses  by  striking  them 
with  a  whip  around  their  front  legs.  This  is  a  very  tender  spot  and 
they  won't  stand  long  and  take  the  punishment  there.  In  working 
a  balky  horse,  always  keep  a  large  stock  of  patience  on  hand,  and 
don't  think  you  are  going  to  break  him  in  two  hours,  because  you 
are  not.  The  moment  he  goes,  reward  him  for  it  by  giving  him  an 
apple. 

Question.     How  would  you  break  a  halter  puller  ? 

Answer.  Take  a  strap  fifteen  feet  long  and  throw  it  over  his  back; 
reach  under  his  body,  take  hold  of  the  end  of  the  strap  and  tie  an 
ordinary  slip-knot ;  have  this  knot  come  directly  under  the  horse's 
body  ;  place  the  strap  between  his  front  limbs  up  through  the  halter, 
and  hitch  to  a  post  or  to  a  ring  in  the  manger;  do  not  hitch  the 
halter  strap ;  then  step  in  front  of  your  horse  with  tin  pans,  blank- 
ets, umbrellas,  and  all  kinds  of  objects,  in  fact,  everything,  and 
frighten  him  and  make  him  pull  if  possible.    After  pulling  back 


—  151  — 


upon  this  strap  he  will  not  make  more  than  the  second  or  third  at- 
tempt. Repeat  these  lessons  twice  a  day  for  five  days.  This  will 
break  any  horse  of  the  habit  of  pulling  on  the  halter  if  you  follow 
my  instructions. 


Question. 
or  steam  ? 


How  would  you  educate  a  horse  not  to  be  afraid  of  cars 


Aftswer,  In  taking  a  horse  up  to  the  cars  put  on  the  "Gleason 
Bridle^^  taking  the  rope  in  your  left  hand,  with  the  whip  in  the 
right,  making  the  horse  follow  you,  and  take  him  right  up  to  the 
cars  and  hold  him  there.  It  is  impossible  for  him  to  get  away  from 
you  or  this  bridle.  You  then  should  caress  him  and  teach  him  that 
the  cars  are  not  going  to  hurt  him.  One  of  the  main  objects  of 
your  lesson  should  be  to  teach  the  animal  that  you  are  his  friend 
and  protector ;  get  him  to  place  confidence  in  you,  and  he  will  go 
through  fire  with  you. 


—  152  — 

In  driving  a  horse  up  to  steam,  I  would  advise  the  putting  on  of 
my  double  safety  strap,  and  run  the  reins  through  the  thill  strap  of 
the  pad,  and  drive  him  first  up  to  ihe  steam.  If  he  makes  a  deter- 
mined attempt  to  get  away  bring  him  to  his  knees.  It  may  be 
necessary  for  you  to  use  the  guy  strap,  having  a  man  hold  the  guy 
strap,  that  will  hold  the  horse  up  to  the  steam ;  but  you  must  be 


very  carefnl  not  to  get  him  burned  or  hurt  him  in  any  way,  but 
teach  him  that  the  steam  is  perfectly  harmless.  As  soon  as  the 
horse  finds  out  that  the  steam  will  not  injure  him,  you  will  find 
that  in  the  second  or  third  lesson  he  will  walk  right  up  to  it  from 
command  of  his  master.  Make  your  lessons  short,  but  firm.  I 
would  advise,  in  training  horses  to  steam,  to  take  them  up  to  a  trac- 
tion engine,  or  up  to  a  mill  wher-^  there  is  steam  used,  taking  them 
to  the  cars  afterwards. 


—  153  — 


Another  good  way  of  breaking  a  horse  to  the  cars,  is  to  hitch  your 
horse  up  beside  a  heavy  team  horse,  where  he  cannot  get  away,  and 
after  he  has  been  driven  up  to  tlie  cars  four  or  five  times  he  is  then 
safe  to  drive  to  your  single  wagon. 


Question.     How  would  you  break  a  shier  ? 

Answer,  I  would  first  place  upon  him  my  double  safety  strap, 
which  is  thoroughly  described  elsewhere,  and  make  him  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  beating  of  drums,  the  rattling  of  tin  pans,  floating 
the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  and  the  shooting  off  firearms,  fire 
crackers,  music,  &g.,  by  driving  him  right  up  to  them  and  giving 
him  to  understand  he  will  not  be  hurt.  And  by  repeating  this  lesson 
every  day,  for  three  or  four  days,  your  horse  has  become  thoroughly 
conversant  with  them  and  will  never  show  fear  when  approaching 
them.  Always  in  giving  these  lessons  to  your  horse,  bear  in  mind 
that  you  must  be  very  careful  that  none  of  the  devices  you  use  must 
hit  him  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause  pain. 


—  154- 


Showing'  position  of  Horse  -Rith  one  foot  ralse<i  by  the  use  of  O.  R. 
Citlea!»ou's  I>OHbij>  Safety  Strap.  Tliis  is  one  of  the  (ireafest  inventions 
of  the  ag-o  for  handling'  antl  controlling'  n  ihl  and  vicious  horses.  31ore 
can  be  accomplished  in  thirty  minutes  than  by  any  aud  all  other 
methods  in  a  day's  time. 


Showing^  Knee  Pads  as  they  should  be  Placed  on  Horse's  Knees.  Xever 
Handle  with  the  Safety  Strap  Unless  you  have  these  Pads  to  Protect 
his  Knees. 


—  165  — 


Sho-^inS'   O.    R.    Glea^on*^   I>oiil>l8    Safety    Strap,  Knee  Pads,  Ac.     Als© 
I.iues  ruu  t!iroug:li  RiujfM  on  side  of  Surcingle,  reaclj-  for  operation. 


Question.     What  do  you  think  of  the  word  "whoa  ?" 

A?is7uer.  It  is  the  greatest  command  that  we  have  in  horseman- 
ship ;  it  is  the  habit  of  almost  every  person  when  driving  to  con- 
tinually use  the  word  "whoa."  Now  let  me  say  to  you  that  you 
should  never  use  this  word  only  when  you  want  your  horse  or  horses 
to  stop.  If  you  are  driving  along  a  street  and  you  come  to  a  cross* 
ing  or  a  bad  place  and  you  wish  your  horses  to  slack  up  in  speed, 
use  this  language  to  them :  "Steady  there,  my  boy;"  but  when  you 
wish  them  to  stop,  speak  out  sharply  and  firmly  "whoa."  If  you  will 
practice  this  when  you  are  driving  your  horse,  in  two  weeks  you 
will  have  him  so  that  he  will  understand  every  command  that  you 
give  him. 


—  156  — 

Kever  use  one  word  with  too  many  meanings.  You  must  never 
lie  to  your  horse  and  never  deceive  him  or  make  false  motions;  if 
you  do  you  will  never  make  a  success  as  a  trainer  of  the  horse. 

Mankind  are  too  apt  to  depend  upon  their  own  strength  to  beat  the 
horse,  without  making  any  use  of  their  reasoning  powers  to  out- 
general him ;  and,  in  many  instances,  such  an  exercise  of  tyranny 
over  the  horse  only  engenders  a  rebellious  spirit  on  the  part  of  the 
animal.  Therefore,  lay  aside  your  strength  and  use  your  reason. 
Be  moderate,  be  temperate.  Ko  man  can  become  a  good  horseman 
and  not  have  first  learned  to  control  himself  before  he  attempts  to 
control  the  animal.  Be  firm,  be  persevering,  be  honest.  Xever  lie 
to  your  horse.  Endeavor  to  have  him  understand  what  you  want, 
and  do  not  confuse  him  by  attaching  different  meanings  to  the  same 
word.  It  is  quite  common  to  say  "whoa,"  when  it  is  only  intended 
to  go  slower ;  or,  when  the  horse  has  not  stirred  a  foot,  to  let  him 
know  of  your  presence ;  and  then  when  you  want  a  "whoa,"  when 
your  life  may  depend  upon  your  having  a  good  "whoa"  upon  your 
horse,  you  find  you  have  not  got  it.  You  have  played  it  entirely  out 
of  him.  Kever  say  "whoa"  unless  you  mean  to  stop  right  there. 
Speak  always  in  a  natural  tone  of  voice,  under  all  circumstances. 

Have  your  horse  understand,  by  examination  and  experience,  that 
the  things  liable  to  frighten  are  harmless,  and  be  sure  not  to  whip 
him  for  being  frightened.  Always  let  your  horse  face  the  object  of 
fear;  ard,  when  frightened,  remember  the  slower  you  move  your 
horse  the  more  power  you  have  over  him.  There  are  times  when 
letting  a  horse  trot  is  almost  as  bad  as  letting  him  run  away. 

Tear  is  something  a  horseman  should  never  exhibit  in  his  counte- 
nance or  voice,  as  the  horse  is  a  close  observer,  and  soon  learns  to 
take  advantage  cf  such  indications  to  become  careless  of  control,  if 
not  indeed  aggressive.  Let  your  lessons  Ic  thorough  but  not  very 
long.  Be  gentle  and  patient  with  th:  colt,  but  make  the  willful 
stubborn  horse  feel  the  full  extent  of  your  power,  till  he  submits. 
Though  if  he  should  become  much  heated  and  excited,  it  is  prudent 
ko  stop  and  repeat  the  lesson  at  some  future  time — repeat  until  there 
is  thorough  and  unconditional  submission.  Let  your  treatment  be 
characterized  by  gentleness  afterwards. 


—  157  — 

Question  How  would  you  get  a  horse  up  when  he  throws  him- 
self? 

Answer,  Blow  in  his  ear ;  if  he  does  not  get  up  by  this,  take  a 
glass  of  water,  or  a  dish  of  water,  and  pour  in  his  nostrils ;  he  will 
rise  to  his  feet  very  quickly.  And  in  the  handling  of  a  mustang, 
which  I ».ecomes  very  stubborn  and  sulky,  sometimes  this  treatment 
will  fail  on  them,  and  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  a  light  whip  and 
use  it  on  the  end  of  the  nose.  They  will  soon  learn  that  when  they 
throw  themselves  they  are  punished  ;  and  when  they  don't  they  are 
rewarded.     In  this  manner  you  teach  them  right  from  wrong. 

Question.     How  do  you  start  a  balky  horse  in  double  team  ? 

Aiiswer.  After  you  have  taken  your  horse  out  and  given  him  a  thor- 
ough handling,  then  hitch  him  up  beside  an  honest-,  true  horse  that 
will  pull  every  time  you  ask  him.  Take  a  half- inch  rope  and  tie 
around  the  balky  horse's  body,  right  in  front  of  his  hips,  in  an  ordi- 
nary slip  knot;  have  this  knot  come  directly  on  the  side  of  the 
horse,  then  carry  the  rope  over  the  wagon  pole  and  hitch  to  the  true 
horse's  collar.  Get  into  your  wagon,  jnck  up  the  reins,  and  hit  the 
true  hcvse  a  crack  with  the  whip,  saying,  "Get  out  of  here."  AYhen 
you  do  he  will  jump  and  take  the  rope  with  him,  and  when  he  does 
the  bslky  horse  must  come. 

Question.  How  would  you  break  a  horse  from  being  afraid  of  a 
dog  or  a  hog  ? 

Answer,  Handle  the  same  as  for  shiers.  Keep  one  eye  on  the 
hog  and  one  eye  on  the  horse.  In  order  to  break  your  horse  of  this 
habit  it  will  require  five  or  six  lessons. 

The  best  way  to  break  your  horse  of  being  afraid  of  a  hog  is  to 
take  a  small  pig  right  into  the  buggy  or  break-wagon,  or  whatever 
you  are  using,  having  the  horse  worked  with  open  bridle;  but  be 
sure  and  have  on  my  safety  rope,  as  when  he  sees  the  pig  and  the  pig 
squeals,  you  will  find  things  will  get  very  interesting ;  but  the  mo- 
ment he  starts  to  run  say  *'  whoa,"  sharp  and  firm,  pull  the  safety 
rope  and  bring  the  horse  to  his  knees. 


—  158  — 

If  it  is  a  clog  that  he  is  afraid  of,  let  the  dog  run  around  him  and 
in  front  of  him ;  put  the  Gleason  bridle  on  the  horse  and 
make  him  come  up  and  smell  of  the  dog ;  walk  around  him.  Then 
throw  your  horse  and  hold  him  down,  and  take  the  dog  and  put  him 
on  top  of  the  horse.  Work  like  this  two  or  three  days  with  the  ani- 
mal, giving  short  lessons,  and  you  have  got  the  best  broken  hog  and 
dog  horse  in  the  world. 

Question.  How  do  you  use  the  whip  ?  Bo  you  believe  in  whip- 
ping a  horse  ? 

Answer.  Ko  lady  or  gentleman  should  ride  or  drive  a  horse  with- 
out having  with  them  a  good  whip.  The  whip  in  its  place  is  a  good 
instrument,  but  it  is  very  often  misused  by  parties;  for  instance, 
how  many  do  you  see  driving  through  the  streets  of  our  cities,  and 
in  our  public  parks,  that  if  a  horse  becomes  frightened  at  a  bicycle  or 
a  band,  or  any  object  whatever,  and  he  makes  an  attempt  to  shy, 
will  get  him  by  it  the  best  way  he  can,  and  the  moment  he  has  passed 
the  object  out  comes  thewhip  with  the  words,  "I'll  teach  you  to  shy," 
and  the  horse  receives  a  severe  punishment.  The  horse,  not  having 
the  reasoning  power  that  you  have,  believes  thatthe  punishment  that 
he  has  just  received  has  come  from  the  object  that  he  was  so  much 
frightened  at. 

Question,     How  would  you  keep  a  horse  from  pawing  in  the  stable  ? 

Answer,  Take  a  piece  of  chain  seven  inches  long,  not  a  plow  chain, 
but  trace  chain ;  tie  on  one  end  of  that  a  piece  of  hard  wood  five 
inches  long  and  one  inch  in  diameter ;  then  take  a  strap  and  buckle 
around  the  horse's  limb,  above  the  knee,  letting  this  chain  and  wood 
hang  from  the  strap.  Every  time  the  horse  paws  this  piece  of  Avood 
will  hit  his  limb,  and  as  he  cannot  think  of  two  things  at  one  time, 
it  will  draw  his  attention  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  him  from 
pawing. 

Question.  How  w^ould  you  keep  a  horse  from  kicking  in  the 
Btall  ? 

Ans7£'er.  Take  a  piece  of  elastic  about  ten  inches  long,  sew  a  vest 
buckle  one  end  of  it  and  buckle  this  around  the  horse's  hind  limb. 


—  IfiO  — 


To  keep  a  Horne  ii'oiu  I*a4viii;i;-  iii  4Ise  i^table. 


To  keep  a  lIor«ie  from  Kicking  in  the  Stall. 


—  160  — 

above  the  liock  joint.  When  the  horse  kicks  the  leader  must  ex- 
pand, the  result  is  the  elastic  preyeuts  it  from  doing  so,  and  the 
horse's  habit  of  kicking  in  the  stall  will  soon  be  broken  up.  Xever 
use  a  strap  or  rope ;  if  you  do  it  will  stop  the  circulation.  In  aD 
cases  use  the  elastic. 


Question.     "What  do  you  think  of  whirling  a  horse  by  his  tail  ? 

Answer,  If  you  have  a  horse  bad  to  harness,  or  will  not  stand  to  be 
bridled  or  saddled,  take  the  halter  strap  in  your  left  hand,  take  hold 
of  the  horse's  tail  with  your  right  hand,  and  whirl  him  around 
eight  or  ten  times.  He  will  become  dizzy,  and  the  moment  you  let 
go  of  him  he  will  stagger  or  fall.  Then  say  ^*  whoa ; "  pick  up  your 
saddle,  harness  or  bridle,  or  whatever  you  want  to  put  on  him,  and 
you  will  find  that  he  will  stand  perfectly  quiet.  It  is  a  quick  and 
effective  method. 

Never  tie  your  horse's  head  and  tail  together,  but  follow  the  above 
instructions. 


—  101  — 

Question.  How  would  you  break  a  horse  from  switching  his 
tail  ? 

Answer,  Place  on  the  horse  a  collar  and  hames,  and  then  take 
hold  of  his  tail.  Take  a  wooden  pin  five  inches  long,  one  inch  in 
diameter,  lay  directly  across  the  hair  of  his  tail,  double  the  end  of 
the  tail  over  the  pin ;  then  take  a  rope  eight  feet  long,  in  the  middle 


of  the  rope  make  a  slip-knot  and  fasten  over  the  end  of  the  tail  and 
pin ;  then  bring  the  horse's  tail  up  over  his  back,  bringing  one  of 
these  ropes  down  to  the  ring  of  the  hame  and  tying  it,  and  on  the 
other  side  in  the  same  way ;  the  rope  prevents  the  tail  from  going 
either  side ;  take  an  ordinary  cloth  surcingle  and  put  that  over  and 
around  his  body ;  leave  the  tail  up  in  this  manner  for  six  hours ;  if  a 
very  bad  case,  repeat  three  times.  This  is  the  best  method  I  ever 
■used,  and  will  surely  do  its  work. 


-  162  — 

Qiiestiofi.  How  would  you  educate  a  horse  not  to  be  afraid  of  fire- 
crackers ? 

A?iswer,  Hitch  him  to  a  wagon,  put  on  my  double  safety  strap, 
and  drive  him  right  up  to  the  fire-crackers,  and  if  he  goes  to  turn 
around  with  you  or  run  back  or  run  away,  pull  the  strap,  which  will 
immediately  bring  him  to  his  knees,  but  do  not  hold  the  strap.  As 
ftoon  as  he  comes  to  his  knees  loosen  the  strap  and  pull  the  lines. 


using  the  command  "  whoa,  sir."  Now  have  boys  throw  fire-crackers 
under  him,  all  around  him,  up  in  the  air,  and  if  be  makes  any  at- 
tempt to  get  away  say  *•  whoa,"  sharp  and  firm.  For  you  to  meet 
with  success  with  a  horse  of  this  character,  or,  in  fact  any  horse,  you 
must  talk  to  him,  always  speaking  distinctly  and  firmly.  After  you 
have  given  the  horse  two  lessons  he  will  pay  no  attention  to  fire- 
crackers. 


—  163  — 

Question,  How  would  you  educate  a  horse  not  to  "be  afraid  of 
paper  and  umbrellas  ? 

Answer,  Put  on  my  double  safety  strap,  take  your  liorse  out  into 
the  field  where  there  are  boys  with  flags,  paper,  umbrellas,  and  drive 
him  right  up  to  tlie  flags,  paper,  etc. ;  if  he  makes  any  attempt  to 
get  aw^ay,  bring  him  to  his  knees;  if  necessary,  throw  him;  have 


the  boys  wave  the  flags  over  his  head,  throw  the  paper  up  in  the  air, 
put  umbrellas  over  his  head,  drive  him  over  the  paper,  drive  him 
over  the  flags,  drive  over  the  umbrella,  make  him  step  into  it,  stand 
on  it,  in  fact,  teach  him  that  these  objects  are  perfectly  harmless. 
Two  lessons  a  day  for  tw^o  days,  not  having  the  lesson  over  one  hour 
in  length,  will  thoroughly  break  your  horse.  The  most  dangerous 
shier  can  be  thoroughly  broken  by  following  the  above  directions. 

Question,     How  would  you  break  a  plunger  or  bolter  ? 

Answer,  Put  on  my  double  safety  strap,  and  when  he  plunges  in 
the  air  pull  the  strap,  when  he  will  come  down  on  his  knees.  He 
will  not  plunge  over  three  or  four  times  before  he  will  be  sick  of  his 
job.     Then  introduce  him  to  drums,  pans,  bells,  and,  in  fact,  give 


—  164  — 

him  a  general  handling  in  the  same  way  that  I  control  kickers. 
After  giving  two  lessons  he  will  not  bother  you  about  bolting  or 
plunging.  If  he  should  bother  you  in  bolting  on  the  street,  or  at 
any  certain  place,  take  him  right  there  and  handle  him  with  the 
safety  strap.  If  he  should  be  inclined  to  balk,  use  guy  lines  as  laid 
down  for  breaking  balky  horses. 


Tftke  four  hame  straps,  or  similar  small  straps,  buckle  one  around 
each  pastern.  Then  run  a  strap  from  the  near  side  foot  to  the  offside 
hind  foot,  passing  it  through  the  ring  in  the  surcingle  under  the 
horse's  body;  also  one  from  the  off  side  front  foot  to  the  near  side 
hind  foot,  leaving  the  straps  loose  enough  to  give  the  horse  full  use 
of  his  limbs  in  trotting  or  walking.  When  he  kicks  he  will  draw 
up  his  fore  feet,  striking  on  his  knees.     He  will  soon  cease  to  kick. 


Question.  How  do  you  prevent  a  horse  from  putting  his  tongue 
out  of  his  mouth  over  the  bit  ? 

Answer.  Get  a  piece  of  sole  leather  seven  inches  long  from  point 
to  point  and  three  inches  wide.  (See  engraving.)  Lay  a  straight 
bar  bit  in  the  middle  of  the  leather,  bringing  the  points  up  together. 


—  165  — 


Slaiiiior  of  Driving'  and  Breaking  a  Bad  Kicker  uhen  all  other 

methods  Fail. 


To  Prevent  a  Horse  from  Putting'  his  Toogrue  Out  of  his  Mouth  OTer 

the  Bit. 


—  lae  — 

Sew  it  on  to  the  bit  so  it  cannot  turn,  and  sew  up  the  sides.  Put 
this  in  your  horse's  mouth  over  the  tongue,  running  backwards  to- 
ward the  throat.  He  cannot  get  his  tongue  back  far  enough  to  get 
it  over  this  leather.  It  is  very  simple,  and  will  only  cost  you  fifteen 
or  twenty  cents.     It  is  the  best  I  have  ever  used. 


Teaching^  a  Horse  how  to  Stand  while  Shootiiigr  over  his  Back. 


Put  on  the  Gleason  bridle,  take  it  firmly  in  your  left  hand  and 
take  a  revolver  loaded  wdth  blank  cartridges  in  your  right  hand ; 
every  time  you  discharge  the  revolver  say  "whoa"  and  pull  the  bridle 
sharply.  Teach  your  horse  that  the  sound  and  smoke  from  the  re* 
volver  wall  not  hurt  him.  Work  in  this  way  for  thirty  minutes  at 
a  time  -^or  three  or  four  days  and  your  horse  will  pay  no  attention 
to  firearms. 

With  very  nervous  and  excitable  horses  it  is  sometimes  necessary 
to  throw  them  and  fire  several  times,  showing  them  that  they  cannot 
get  away,  and  that  there  is  nothing  to  be  afraid  of.     Follow  these 


—  167  — 

instructions,  and  you  will  be  surprised  to  see  how  quickly  your  horse 
will  understand  that  jou  are  not  going  to  hurt  him. 

How  to  approach  a  biting  horse :  Always  do  so  with  a  revolver 
heavily  loaded  with  blank  cartridges  in  your  right  hand.  Advance 
this  hand  toward  the  horse's  mouth,  the  muzzle  pointing  past  him, 
60  the  powder  will  not  burn  him.  If  he  attempts  to  bite  you,  at 
that  instant  shoot  off  the  revolver.    Every  time  he  makes  the  at- 


Revolver  used  bj  O.  R.  Gleason  in  defending  himself  from  tbe  3Ioiisoii*s 

Bitingr  Stalliou  Rysdylc. 


tempt  repeat  the  shooting.  This  causes  the  horse  to  think 
the  biting  causes  the  explosion ;  this  he  wishes  to  avoid,  and  will  soon 
cease  to  bite  at  you.  The  old  theory  of  clubbing  a  horse  only  adds 
to  and  increases  his  vicious  temper.  This  is  an  original  method  of 
my  own,  w^hich  I  have  successfully  used  in  handling  Kysdyk  and 
many  other  vicious  biting  stallions. 

In  leading  horses  in  battle  have  the  saddles  made  with  a  back- 
strap  and  crupper,  having  an  inch  ring  attached  to  the  crupper ; 
then  have  a  strap  four  feet  long  with  an  ordinary  driving  snap  sewed 
into  each  end  of  it.  While  riding,  snap  one  of  these  snaps  into  the 
ring  of  the  bit,  then  the  other  end  of  the  strap  into  the  ring  of  the 
saddle.  In  dismounting  and  hitching  a  large  number  of  horses 
together,  unsnap  the  line  from  the  saddle  and  snap  that  into  the  ring 
on  the  crupper  of  the  front  horse,  as  seen  in  the  above  engraving. 
By  this  method  two  men  are  capable  of  controlling  twenty  horses  at 
one  time,  leading  them  or  holding  them.  The  only  extra  cost  would 
be  attaching  a  back-strap  and  crupper,  and  the  short  four-foot  line. 


—  168  — 


lieadingr  Horses  in  Battle. 


—  169  — 


Cleaning  Collars. 

They  should  be  cleaned  two  or  three  times  a  week,  collars  that  are 
in  constant  use,  as  the  accumulations  that  gather  upon  the  surface 
next  the  shoulder  of  the  horse  becomes  rough  and  uneven.  If  it 
does  not  gall  it  irritates  and  annoys  the  horse  when  he  is  required 
to  pull,  causing  him  to  try  to  avoid  the  irritation  or  pain,  and  often 
makes  balky  horses. 

Harness  and  Saddles. 


Harness  used  on  all  draft  horses  should  be  carefully  cleaned  reg- 
ularly once  a  week.  Collars  should  be  cleaned  daily,  thoroughly 
scraping  all  scurf  arising  from  heating  the  horse  from  the  collar  be- 
fore it  is  used  a  second  time.  Always  have  your  harness  properly 
oiled  and  pliable,  so  that  it  will  fit  the  horse  as  a  boot  fits  a  man. 

Saddles  should  have  the  same  care  and  attention,  and  great  pains 
should  be  taken  that  the  saddle  fits  the  back,  to  prevent  galls  and 
sores.    This  is  almost  universally  neglected. 


—  170  — 


i^SMBm^mmm^ 


Double  Dra^  Check  Rein. 


Use  one-half  of  an  ordinary  kimbie  and  jack  check  rein.  Have  a 
strap  fourteen  feet  long,  place  the  middle  of  this  strap  around  the 
check  hook,  carry  the  ends  up  through  the  little  rings  in  the  kimbie 
and  jack  rein,  bring  them  back,  pass  them  through  the  terret  rings 
'Nvith  the  lines.  Have  a  buckle  sewed  on  the  lines  about  six  inches 
back  of  the  rings.  Buckle  this  check  into  the  Imes,  and  you  have  a 
bridle  check  that  the  harder  you  pull  the  higher  you  lift  your  horse's 
head.  This  check  is  used  for  driving  kickers  and  runaway  horses 
and  very  lad  pullers.     (See  engraving). 

Question,     How  would  you  keep  a  horse  from  jumping  over  a  fence  ? 

Answer.  Buckle  around  his  body  a  surcingle  with  a  two-inch  ring 
directly  under  his  body;  take  two  straps  with  an  inch  ring  in  each 
end  and  buckle  them  around  the  horse's  front  limbs,  above  the  knees ; 


—  171  — 

then  take  a  strap  thirteen  inches  in  length  with  a  driving  strap  in 
one  end,  strapping  one  of  them  into  the  ring  on  the  off  front  limb; 


bring  through  the  ring  in  surcingle  and  strap  into  ring  on  nigh  front 
limb.     The  horse  can  walk  and  trot,  lie  down  and  get  up,  but  he 


Showiiigr  Jiiuipiiig,-  Rig;  as  used  by  O.  R.  Gleasou  to  break  Fence  Jnmpers. 


—  172-- 

cannot  run  or  jump,  as  he  cannot  move  both  front  feet  at  the  same 
time.     This  can  be  used  upon  colts  as  well  as  horses. 

Question.     How  would  you  keep  a  horse  from  tearing  his  blanket 
in  the  stall  ? 


Answer,  Sew  a  piece  of  leather  about  five  inches  square  on  each 
side  of  the  halter,  letting  it  come  down  even  with  his  mouth ;  when 
he  reaches  down  to  grab  the  blanket  he  will  have  to  chew  the  leather. 


Question.  How  would  you  keep  a  horse  from  getting  cast  in 
the  stall? 

Answer.  Put  on  the  horse  a  halter  ;  sew  a  ring  in  the  halter  over 
the  horse's  head  ;  on  top  of  the  stall  drive  a  staple  and  ring  ;  at 
the  side  of  the  stall  drive  another  staple  and  ring,  take  a  rope 
ten  feet  long  with  a  driving  snap  threaded  into  one  end  of  it ; 
feed  your  horse  from  the  floor  with  a  manger  of  oats.      When 


—  173  — 

your  horse's  head  is  down,  snap  this  rope  into  the  ring  on  top  of 
the  halter  and  pass  up  through  ring  over  his  head,  through 
ring  on  side  of  the  stall  and  hang  a  weight  there  ;  that  will 
take  up  the  slack  of  the  rope  the  moment  that  he  raises  his 
head.  Hitch  him  in  this  way  only  ;  he  cannot  roll  oyer  or  get 
cast  in  the  stall,  as  you  will  see  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  turn 
his  head  around. 


Question,     What  do  you  think  of  grooming  a  horse  ? 

Answer,  When  you  are  grooming  a  horse  you  must  remem- 
ber that  horses  are  like  people,  some  have  a  very  thin  skin  and 
are  very  tender.  One-half  of  the  grooms  of  to-day  when  using  their 
wirry-combs  and  brush,  bear  on  with  the  curry-comb  as  hard  as 
{)Ossible,  the  result  is  that  a  thin  skinned  horse  cannot  and  will 
not  stand  it.  I  have  seen  many  high-bred  horses,  trotters  and 
runners  that  have  been  made  vicious  biters  and  strikers,  caused 
by  ignorant  grooming.  JSTow  when  you  find  a  horse  that  has  a 
very  thin  skin  run  the  curry-omb  over  him  light  and  easy  and 
soft  as  possible,  getting  most  of  the  dust  out  with  a  good  brush. 


—  174  — 

using  directly  after  the  brush  straw,  and  rub  him  thoroughly 
with  it  ;  then  use  a  rubbing  cloth,  which  will  put  on  a  polish. 
One  of  the  best  methods  for  cleaning  and  caring  for  a  horse  that 
has  been  driven  fast  and  comes  into  the  stable  very  warm,  is  to 
take  a  meal  sack,  turn  it  wrong  side  out  with  meal  all  over  it, 
rub  this  meal  right  into  the  hair,  rub  him  as  near  dry  as  possi- 
ble, put  the  blanket  on  him  as  soon  as  he  is  dry,  then  you  can  use 
the  curry-comb  and  brush  and  clean  the  horse  as  usual ;  this 
will  leave  him  in  fine  condition.  The  meal  will  make  the  horse's 
hair  glossy  and  shine  like  a  blackened  boot. 


A  horse  should  be  cleaned  but  once  a  day,  and  this  should  be 
at  night,  after  he  has  done  his  day's  work  ;  in  the  morning 
merely  straighten  his  coat  and  clean  off  what  dirt  may  have  col- 
lected in  the  stall  during  the  night.  My  reason  for  giving  a 
horse  a  thorough  cleaning  at  night  is  the  same  that  you  would 
do  yourself  after  a  hard  day's  work  ;  taking  a  good  wash  and 
general  cleaning  up  refreshes  you  wonderfully. 


—  175  — 

What  is  good  for  man  is  good  for  the  horse  ;  they  need  the 
same  care  and  treatment.  This  method,  you  must  understand, 
I  mean  for  work  horses. 

Question,     How  do  you  teach  a  horse  to  back  ? 

A7iswer.  ^\xt  on  the  '<  G-leason  Bridle,'^  drawing  the  strap 
in  your  right  hand,  and  stand  at  the  horse's  shoulder  ;  press 
your  left  hand  upon  his  neck  ;  use  the  words  '^  back,  sir,''  and 
pull  the  strap  at  the  same  time.  This  will  give  the  horse  a 
severe  jerk  in  the  mouth  and  he  will  back  four  or  five  inches. 
The  moment  that  he  does  so  caress  him  and  teach  him  that  he 
has  done  right.  Then  repeat  the  lesson  again  and  again,  until 
shortly  the  horse  will  back  any  distance  for  you  at  the  word  of 
command.  Some  colts  will  be  very  stubborn  and  fight  you  for 
five  or  ten  minutes  ;  but  keep  at  them,  always  having  plenty  of 
patience,  and  at  last  you  will  gain  your  point. 

Question.     Tv^nat  do  you  think  of  bitting  a  colt? 

Anstuer.  ii  nature  has  not  designed  the  colt  to  have  a  high 
head  and  carriage  no  art  of  man  can  alter  it,  and  the  old  fashion 
of  strapping  up  the  neck  in  an  unnatural  position  and  leaving 
it  there  for  hours,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  results  in  a  heavy 
headed  lugger  on  the  bit.  I  do  not  believe  or  endorse  the 
working  of  the  old-fashioned  bitting  reins.  I  simply  use  the 
Gleason  Bridle,  teaching  the  colt  to  turn  his  head  quickly 
to  the  right  and  left,  stopping  at  the  word  ^^whoa."  I 
then  take  and  put  on  an  ordinary  open  bridle  and  straight 
bar  bit,  teaching  him  to  guide  by  line  quickly  and  easily  ; 
working  in  this  way  with  a  colt  for  three  or  four  days, 
then  you  can  put  on  the  check  rein  and  check  him  up  to 
his  natural  position.  The  next  day  you  can  check  him  a 
little  higher,  and  the  next  day  a  little  higher  yet  ;  then  you 
understand  that  the  horse  generally  elevates  his  head,  works 
pleasantly  upon  the  bit,  and  you  are  not  getting  him  mad  nor 
breaking  down  his  constitution  by  forcing  and  straining  him 
with  the  old-fashioned  bitting  reins. 


—  176  — 

Questio7i,     How  do  you  make  your  single  riding  bridle  ? 

Ansiver,  Take  strap  eight  feet  long  ;  place  the  middle  of 
this  strap  on  top  of  your  horse^s  head,  carry  it  down  the  side  of 
his  face,  placing  each  strap  through  his  mouth,  bringing  the 
ends  up  to  the  back,  and  the  riding  bridle  is  complete. 

This  bridle  is  simple  and  useful,  handy  to  ride  a  horse  to 
pasture,  or  to  exercise  horses  with. 

Question.  How  do  you  teach  a  horse  to  lie  down  at  the  word 
of  command  ? 

Ajiswer.  Take  him  out  into  a  field  or  nice  soft  place  and 
throw  him  twelve  or  thirteen  times,  using  the  words  ''lie  down,^' 
plain  and  distinct.  After  you  throw  him,  let  him  lie  quietly 
for  about  five  minutes;  caress  him;  feed  him  an  apple.  Do 
not  make  your  lessons  over  an  hour  long.  The  third  day,  by 
taking  a  little  riding-whip  and  touching  him  on  the  knees, 
using  the  command  ''  lie  down,^^  he  will  obey  you  quickly. 


Oleason's  Simple  Riding-  Briille. 


In  order  to  make  this  bridle,  take  a  piece  of  strap  nine  feet  long, 
place  the  middle  cf  it  over  the  top  of  the  horse^s  head,  bringing 
it  down  over  the  cheeks,  pass  through  the  mouth  from  each 
side,  bring  the  ends  up  and  use  as  reins.  This  is  very  simple 
and  will  often  be  found  very  useful  to  the  farmer^ 


—  177- 


A  €!eiitleiuuii*s  Kou<l  Horse. 


A  Goo<l  General  Business  Horse. 


—  178  — 

Question.  How  would  you  educate  a  horse  not  to  be  afraid  of 
fire-arms  or  gunpowder  ? 

Ansiuer.  Throw  him  and  hold  him  down,  taking  a  revolver 
loaded  with  blank  cartridges,  fire  it  off  in  the  air.  If  he  make? 
a  move  to  get  up  make  him  lie  down  by  pulling  the  strap  ;  re 
peat  this  and  make  the  lesson  thirty  or  forty  minutes.  The  next 
day  give  him  another  lesson  and  in  three  days  you  have  taught 
your  horse  so  that  he  will  pay  no  attention  to  the  report  of  a 
gun.  The  theory  of  this  is  very  simple.  All  that  you  have  got 
to  do  is  to  convince  a  horse  that  you  are  his  friend  and  he  is  not 
going  to  be  harmed. 

Question.  How  would  you  educate  a  horse  not  to  be  afraid  of 
buffalo  robes,  blankets,  etc.? 

Anstoer.  Take  the  Gleason  Bridle  and  put  on  to  his  head, 
holding  the  strap  in  your  right  hand  ;  take  the  buffalo  robe  or 
blanket  and  hold  up  to  the  horse^s  nostrils  ;  let  him  smell  of  it ; 
at  first  he  will  make  a  desperate  attempt  to  get  away  from  you  ; 
as  he  does,  you  pull  upon  the  bridle,  using  the  words  ^^  stand, 
sir  ;''  then  let  him  smell  of  them  again,  and  every  time  that  he 
makes  an  attempt  to  get  away  from  it  tighten  upon  the  bridle, 
and  always  talk  to  your  horse,  using  the  words  *' stand  still, 
that  will  not  hurt  you,^^  or  any  other  words  that  you  may  think 
proper.  Eepeat  these  lessons  three  or  four  times,  throwing  the 
robe  over  his  head,  making  him  walk  over  it,  and  teach  him 
that  you  are  his  friend  and  protector.  In  a  short  time  he  will 
gain  confidence  in  you,  and  whatever  you  ask  him  to  do  he  will 
be  williug  to  perform. 

Question.  How  would  you  break  a  horse  from  biting  in  the 
stall  ? 

Answer.  Use  the  Gleason  Bridle,  having  the  long  strap  hang 
over  the  side  of  the  stall  where  you  can  reach  it  handy,  and 
when  you  go  in  by  the  side  of  the  horse,  if  he  makes  any  attempt 
to  kick  at  you,  strike  or  bite,  give  him  a  severe  pull  upon  this 
strap,  at  the  same  time  using  the  words  ^'take  care,  take  care, 
8ir.^' 


—  179  — 


This  bridle  is  very  valuable  for  teaching  horses  to  follow  yon. 
Take  hold  of  the  strap  with  your  left  hand,  stand  directly  in 
front  of  your  horse,  taking  a  buggy  whip  in  your  right  hand  ; 
you  crack  the  whip  and  say  "come  here,'^  at  the  same  time 
pulling  the  rope.      Keep  practicing  this  on  the  horse  for  20  or 


Sbouing  Double  Safety  Strap  on  Off  Horse  in  Double  Team,  Fsed  in 
Driving  a  Bolter  or  Plaui^er  or  any  General  3Ieau  Morse  in  Double 
Harness. 

30  minutes  ;  he  will  soon  understand  that  when  you  crack  the 
whip  that  it  means  for  him  to  come  to  you.  As  soon  as  he 
comes  to  you  pat  him  or  caress  him,  feed  him  an  apple,  and 
after  you  have  given  him  two  or  three  lessons  you  can  call  him 
from  almost  any  distance  by  the  crack  of  the  whip. 


Question.     What  do  you  think  of  clipping  horses  ? 

Ansiuer.  For  driving  horses  who  have  a  thick  coat  of  very 
long  hair,  I  would  recommend  clipping,  'for  in  such  cases  the 
horse  can  be  much  more  easily  taken  care  of,  and  really,  I  think 
he  is  benefited  by  it.  But,  in  all  cases,  when  you  remove  na- 
ture's covering  you  must  substitute  another^  in  the  way  of  warm 


—  180  — 


blankets,  &c.  When  a  horse's  coat  of  long,  thick  hair  is  allowed 
to  remain  as  nature  has  calculated  it,  as  a  protection  from  the 
cold,  storms  and  rigors  of  winter,  when  taken  out  and  speeded 
the  perspiration  arising  from  his  body  causes  his  hair  to  become 
thoroughly  saturated,  and  then  when  he  com.es  to  stand  still,  it 
becomes  cold  and  consequently  chills  the  horse  through,  and  not 
only  makes  him  very  uncomfortable,  but  he  is  quite  liable  to 
take  cold  and  have  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  ^^  epizootic/^  &c. 
Whereas,  if  this  coat  of  thick  and  long  matting  of  hair,  which 
gets  so  sour  when  it  becomes  wet,  and,  as  all  horsemen  know, 
always  retains  the  dust  and  excrements  of  the  horse^s  body,  is 
removed  and  proper  care  is  taken  of  covering  him,  his  coat  can 
be  kept  looking  so  much  nicer  and  with  less  labor,  and  the 
horse^s  skin  will  be  in  a  more  healthy  condition.  The  same  rule 
will  apply  to  work  horses,  if  they  can  have  the  same  care. 

The  question  is  often  asked  me  if  I  approve  of  clipping  the 
fetlock.  I  answer.  Yes,  on  driving  horses  only.  All  team  horses 
and  heavy  draft  horses  should  be  left  their  natural  fetlocks. 
After  driving  your  horse  in  muddy  weather,  let  the  mud  dry  on 


—  181  — 

his  feet  and  legs.  Then  clean  it  off  with  a  brnsh.  Do  not 
wash  your  horse  upon  coming  in  from  a  muddy  drive.  By  fol- 
lowing my  instructions  in  this  particular  you  will  prevent 
scratches,  greased  heels  and  many  other  disagreeable  diseases  of 
the  leg. 

The  Celebrated  "Gleason  Bridle." 

For  training  and  handling  horses  of  all  vicious  habits,  no  ropes  or 
cords  to  lacerate  the  mouth  is  recommended  by  me. 


Havii  -^^  up  to  this  time,  during  my  professional  career'  used  ropes 
in  lieu  of   straps,  for    my  Bonaparte  and  Eureka  bridles,  I  now 


—  182  — 

abandon  the  rope  entirely  on  many  accounts  and  have  made  and  patent- 
ed a  bridle  constructed  of  leather  and  iron  rings  of  which  the  preced- 
ing engraving  is  an  exact  illustration,  and  is  described  as  follows : 

A  A  is  a  mouth  piece  or  loop  for  the  lower  jaw  of  the  horse  to  pass 
through,  leaving  upper  part  of  loop  in  horse's  mouth  and  lower  part  under 
his  jaw.  The  part  of  loop  in  the  mouth  is  round  to  guard  against  a 
possibility  of  lacerating  the  tongue  or  mouth  of  the  horse. 

B  B  is  an  iron  ring,  one  inch  in  diameter,  each  side  of  the  mouth,  sewed 
into  loop  A  A. 

C  C  is  a  strap  three  feet  long,  that  passes  directly  over  the  head  close  to 
the  ears,  with  a  buckle  so  as  to  take  it  up  or  let  it  out  to  suit  the  horse's 
head  you  are  going  to  handle. 

D  C)  is  a  solid,  heavy  iron  ring,  one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter, 
sewed  on  strongly  to  strap  C  C,  and  is  used  for  strap  E  E  to  pass  through. 

E  E  is  a  half-inch  strap  of  leather,  fifteen  feet  long,  one  end  of  which  is 
sewed  into  ring  B  B  on  the  offside  of  the  horse's  head.  This  strap  is  then 
passed  over  his  neck  to  his  withers,  is  then  brought  down  through  ring 
B  B,  on  near  side,  then  up  through  ring  D  D,  then  brought  down  through 
ring  B  B.;  the  long  end  of  strap  E  E  is  held  in  the  right  hand,  this 
gives  a  man  power  to  control  a  vicious  horse  who  is  afraid  of  buffalo 
robes  and  umbrellas,  to  lead  a  horse  up  to  steam  or  anything  he  is  afraid 
of,  also  to  control  or  handle  any  vicious  horse,  as  the  bearing  comes 
directly  on  the  horse's  neck  by  the  strap  E  E  and  pressure  upon  the  brain 
by  the  strap  C  C.     The  entire  bridle  consists  of  three  pieces. 


BfMle  Displayed  npon  tbe  Horse-s  Head  and  Ready  for  Operatiovi. 


—  183  — 

This  bridle  will  be  known  iis  tlie  "  Gleason  Bridle,"  and  used  by 
him  in  handling  all  wild  and  vicious  horses. 

When  you  pull  upon  the  long  strap,  you  will  find  the  liorse  will 
quickly  follow  you,  and  can  be  made  to  stop  at  the  word  '^  whoa  !  "  or 
obey  any  command  you  may  give  him,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  making 
his  mouth  sore. 


Several  Forms  of  Using'  Brittle  \%ith  Strap  run  down  throug^h  Ringr  on 

Moutbplece. 


When  used  as  in  engraving  above,  is  for  training  horses  to  be 
familiar  Avith  buftalo  robes,  umbrellas,  drums,  paper,  steam  and  all 
other  objects.  In  presenting  an  umbrella  to  your  horse,  take  it  in 
your  left  hand  and  the  long  strap  in  your  right  hand,  letting  the 
liorse  smell  of  the  umbrella,  then  opening  it  and  letting  him  look 


—  184  — 

into  it,  then  holding  it  over  his  head,  then  raising  it  and  lowering  it, 
and  alternately  doing  this  until  he  is  used  to  it.  Then  you  can  open 
and  shut  it  without  his  making  any  move  or  seeming  to  notice  it,  and 
by  being  thorough  in  handling  him  with  all  ohjects  he  is  afraid  of, 
he  will  soon  become  familiar  with  them  all. 

The  owner  of  one  of  these  bool^s  has  the  right  to  have  manufac 
tured  one  of  these  bridles  for  his  own  use,  but  not  the  right  to  sell 
or  manufacture  for  sale,  as  they  will  be  furnished  to  any  person  in 
want  of  one  upon  an  order  sent  to  my  headquarters. 


l»Aof.  O.  R.  Gleason's  Wonderful  Eureka  Bridle. 


To  make  this  bridle,  take  a  small  piece  of  rope  ten  feet  long,  tie  it 
round  the  animal's  neck  in  a  slip  knot,  then  bring  the  rope  down 
through  his  mouth  on  the  off  side,  then  pass  the  rope  back  through 
the  cord  that  you  have  tied  around  the  horse's  neck  Xow  pull  down 
upon  the  rope  snugly,  then  pass  rope  over  his  head,  close  to  his  ears, 
then  bring  rope  down  on  the  off  side  of  his  face  through  his  mouth, 
then  pass  the  rope  back  and  tie  into  the  rope  around  his  neck.  This 
bri  lie  is  to  be  used  to  make  a  horse  s'and  to  be  shod,  harnessed,  sad- 
dled, clippeJ,  sore  eyes  treated,  sore  back  treated;  it  is  also  used  to 
make  horses  familiar  with  buffalo  robes,  umbrellas,  paper,  blankets. 


—  185- 


To  accomplish  this  work  and  expedite  matters,  first  let  him  smell  of 
the  object,  then  ])resent  them  to  him  in  any  way  you  may  choose, 
being  careful  not  to  inflict  pain. 


Prof.  O.  R.  Gleasou's  Famous  Bonaparte  Bridle  used  by  Him  since  1S73. 


The  above  engraving  shows  the  bridle  in  backward  actions  for 
teaching  a  horse  to  back  and  stop  at  word  of  command.  This  is  a 
cord  fifteen  feet  in  length,  with  a  stationary  loop  tied  at  one  end  just 
large  enough  to  slip  over  the  horse's  lower  jaw.  Put  it  on  the  horse's 
lower  jaw ;  bring  it  over  the  middle  of  the  neck  from  the  off  side ; 
pass  downward  through  the  loop  on  near  side ;  bring  up  the  lower 
corner  of  cheek-bone  on  near  side ;  hold  there  with  right  thumb, 
pass  the  slack  through  mouth  from  near  side;  bring  over  neck  just 
behind  ears  from  off  side  ;  then  through  loop  held  by  thumb.  Don't 
liasten.  Hold  the  long  end  in  your  right  hand  and  take  it  back,  and 
you  then  have  a  most  powerful  bridle  which  will  effectually  stop  any 
horse,  no  matter  how  imruly  or  vicious,  by  merely  giving  it  a  sharp 
jerk,  and  saying  "  lake  care"  when  the  horse  tries  to  kick.  To 
make  a  horse  come  to  you  at  word,  stand  off  eight  feet  with  this 
cord  in  your  hand,  and  say  "  come  here,"  at  the  same  time  giving 


—  186  — 

the  cord  a  strong  pull,  which  you  will  find  will  draw  the  animal 
very  quickly.  Step  to  the  other  side  of  the  horse  and  repeat  again 
and  again  for  about  ten  minutes.  Every  time  he  obeys,  caress  him, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  you  will  have  a  horse  that  will  watch  you 
as  closely  and  follow  you  as  well  as  your  dog.  This  bridle  can  be 
also  used  for  animals  afraid  of  bicycles,  etc.,  and  liable  to  run  away. 
This  bridle  may  also  be  used  to  break  a  horse  afraid  of  umbrellas  or 
buffalo  robes,  as  follows :  Place  on  the  horse  the  bridle  as  seen  in  en- 
graving. Present  the  umbrella  or  buiialo  robe,  allowing  him  to 
smell  of  it ;  than  ri:b  it  across  his  nose  and  head ;  open  it  gently,  at 
the  same  time  allow  him  to  smell  of  it  several  times ;  work  gently 
till  he  becomes  reconciled  to  it,  and  in  a  few  lessons  vou  will  be  able 
to  use  the  umbrella  in  any  place  around  him. 


TWs  Shows  the  Forward  Action  of  Gleason's  Bonaparte  Bridle. 


To  be  used  as  represented  in  above  illustration  when  teaching  6 
horse  to  come  to  you  quickly.  Take  tbe  cord  in  the  left  hand  and 
your  whip  in  the  right  hand,  standing  directly  iti  front  of  the  ani- 
mal. Xow  pull  the  cord  and  strike  him  lightly  with  the  vrhi]: 
around  the  hind  legs,  and  say  "  come  here,"  and  when  he  obeys  youi 
command  pat  him  gently  on  the  neck,  and  repeat  this  as  often  as  is. 


—  187  — 

necessary,  to  make  him  thoroughly  iindcrstand  what  you  want.  I  want 
it  distinctly  understood,  that  I  do  not . approve  of  the  use  of  ropes  in 
handling  horses,  and  have  ^  ly  mentioned  them  in  some  of  my  de- 
scriptions of  how  to  handle  them  for  the  convenience  of  the  farmer, 
when  they  have  no  other  opportunity  of  getting  the  straps  which 
are  always  preferred.     (See  engraving  of  my  new  leather  bridle.) 


Tbe  ^«0*  Bi  Gleason  Break  Harnese."    Patent  applied  for. 


—  188  — 

The  Gleason  Break  Harness  in  Parts. 

PATENT   APPLIED    FOR. 


Breeching'  and  Back  Strap. 


Patent  Bridle  and  Bit. 


Belly  and  llold-baek  Stra|>s. 


Breast  Collar. 


—  189  — 

In  describing  tlie  Break  Harness,  I  will  say  it  is  so  constructed  that 
it  can  be  put  on  in  parts  or  taken  oft'  in  parts.  It  can  be  used  with 
back-strap  and  cru^^per,  taken  oft"  also  with  breeching.  The  safety 
rope  can  also  be  applied  when  using  this  harness  without  interfering 
in  the  least  with  each  other.  The  reader  can  see  by  the  illustration  on 
page  187  that  it  is  put  together  with  snaps.  Any  of  my  readers  want- 
ing such  harness  I  will  furnish  them  with  one  set  complete  for  $25.  Or 
to  any  person  owning  one  of  my  books  I  will  grant  the  right  for  them 
to  get  one  made  for  his  own  use,  but  not  to  sell  or  cause  to  be  sold. 


The  above  engraving  is  a  fac  simile  of  my  famous  "  Break  Wagon,'' 
by  which  the  reader  will  readily  see  the  fore  w^heels  can  turn  right 
under  the  seat,  there  being  no  reach  to  obstruct  their  passage,  per- 
mitting me  to  make  very  short  turns,  which  is  necessary,  as  my  ex- 
hibitions are  given  upon  theatrical  stages  often,  and  want  of  room 
in  such  cases  caused  me  to  originate  the  above  wagon.  It  is  so 
constructed  that  it  can  be  taken  apart  and  packed  in  trunks  and  thus 
transported  over  the  country.  It  is  very  complete  in  all  its  points, 
and  I  have  applied  for  a  patent  on  it.  I  have  handled  over  two 
thousand  head  of  vicious  horses  with  it,  and  it  is  still  sound.  It  cost 
me  $500  dollars  to  get  it  manufactured. 

Any  of  my  readers  wanting  such  a  w^agon  can  obtain  it  through  me. 


—  190  — 


The  above  engraving  ilhistrates  the  use  of  my  single  foot-strap, 
which,  the  reader  will  readily  see,  gives  the  driver  a  double  purchase 


—  191  — 

on  the  horse's  foot  and  is  quickly  explained.  The  end  being  snapped 
into  large  iron  ring,  which  is  sewed  strongly  to  the  surcmgle  under 
the  horse's  belly,  passed  through  the  ring  attached  to  strap  at  the 
fetlock  joint,  and  back  through  the  ring  in  surcingle.  Taking  end  of 
strap  in  left  hand,  you  can  break  a  horse  of  the  following  habits :  from 
rearing  in  the  air,  bolting  off  sideways,  teach  liir'  the  word  "whoa," 
etc.,  etc. 


The  above  engraving  illustrates  the  use  of  my  guy  line,  used  for 
starting  balky  horses  and  teaching  colts  to  turn  to  the  right  or  left. 
A  man  stands  directly  in  front  or  to  the  right  or  left,  as  the  case 
may  be,  and  is  controlled  wholly  by  the  driver,  who  sits  in  the  wagon 
and  whose  commands  he  must  listen  to  and  strictly  obey,  so  that 
t<he  working  of  both  men  may  be  in  unison,  and  by  giving  the  horse 


—  192  — 


short  lessons,  not  more  than  an  hour's  length  per  day  for  say  two  or 
three  days,  the  horse  will  become  thoroughly  broke  and  subdued. 
It  will  also  be  found  very  useful  in  handling  a  horse  who  is  stubborn 
and  wants  to  go  on  one  street  while  you  desire  to  go  another. 


—  193  — 

The  engraving  opposite  illustrates  the  manner  of  educating  a  colt 
to  pull  in  the  harness  by  taking  hold  of  the  traces  in  the  left  hand  and 
pulling  gently  back  on  them  while  he  moves  forward,  getting  him 
used  to  the  pressure  of  the  collar  on  his  breast.  After  which  he  may  be 
hitched  to  a  two-wheeled  vehicle,  and  taking  care  in  giving  the  first 
lessons  to  select  some  level  ground  for  the  work,  and  make  no  false 
motions,  never  lie  to  him  or  deceive  him.  I  condemn  all  bitting 
harness.  It  is  certainly  cruelty  to  animals  to  use  them.  It  is  a 
mistaken  idea  of  any  man  to  entertain  to  presume  he  can  change 
the  form  or  frame  of  a  horse  that  was  made  by  Dame  Nature's  own 
handiwork. 


m-^^i£S 


^Ai 


The  above  engraving  illustrates  a  soldier  shooting  off  his  gun  over 
the  horse's  back,  and  when  giving  the  horse  his  first  lesson  in  this 
part  of  his  education,  use  the  Gleason  Bridle,  and  you  always  have 
your  horse  under  control,  for  when  he  steps  or  moves  while  you  are 
discharging  your  weapon,  by  simply  tightening  up  on  the  rope  or 
strap  and  commanding  him  to  stand,  he  will  become  accustomed  to 
it,  so  that  he  will  soon  pay  no  attention  to  the  report.  Give  him 
two  lessons  a  day  for  one  week,  and  you  will  soon  have  an  animal 
that  you  can  discharge  a  cannon  over  his  back  and  he  will  take  no 
notice  of  it. 


—  194  — 


The  above  engraving  illustrates  the  manner  of  branding  a  horse, 
showing  where  the  brand  should  be  placed,  and  which  should  be 
regulated  by  a  law  of  the  United  States.  Parties  owning  ranches 
where  branding  is  necessary,  should  brand  the  horse  on  the  left  hind 
foot,  and  that  brand  should  be  registered.  I  recommend  that  the 
United  States  Government  adopt  this  method  in  branding  its  horses. 


Question.     How  would  you  handle  a  wild  mustang  ? 

A?tswe?\  In  handling  a  wild  mustang  or  any  wild  vicious  horse, 
many  times  they  are  so  dangerous  that  it  is  impossible  to  approach 
them  with  safety.  I  will  lay  down  a  rule  to  handle  a  wild  and  vicious 
mustang  or  western  bronco.  Take  a  half-inch  rope  fifty  feet  long, 
make  a  slip  noose  in  one  end  of  it,  lay  this  on  the  ground,  making  a 
large  loop  about  three  and  one-half  feet  across  it,  then  lead  the 
bronco  into  it,  his  front  feet  standing  in  the  loop,  as  seen  in  the 
above  engraving.  The  moment  that  he  gets  into  the  rope  pull 
the  rope,  which  will  bring  his  two  front  limbs  together ;  you 
pull  to  the  left  and  the  man  that  has  hold  of  the  bronco  or 
mustang  pull  to  the  right ;  you  will  at  once  bring  him  to  his 
back,  as  seen  in  the  following  engraving.  Now  you  can  take  the 
mustang  and  put  on  my  double  safety  strap  and  the  driving  bridle 
and  handle  him  the  same  as  I  have  laid  down  for  handling  any 


-195  — 

vicious  animal,  kickers  or  runaways.  In  working  nrcshings,  let  me 
say  that  you  must  work  them  slow  and  easy;  their  lessons  should 
not  be  over  thirty  minutes'  long.  Repeat  them  twice  a  day  and  in 
one  week  the  mustang  is  ready  to  drive.  In  working  this  animal  al- 
ways use  a  great  deal  of  judgment  and  plenty  of  patience ;  never 


show  your  temper ;  whatever  they  do  is  not  because  they  are  vicious, 
but  because  they  are  afraid  that  you  are  going  to  hurt  them,  and  they 
are  of  a  wild  nature.  They  can  be  easily  brought  under  control  by 
kind  and  gentle  treatment. 


The  following  cut  is  to  illustrate  to  the  reader  the  position  of  man^ 
and  horse,  with  the  animal's  fore  feet  in  the  lariat  loop ;  you  should 
now  pull  the  rope  quickly,  and  you  should  step  to  the  right,  while 
your  assistant,  who  is  holding  the  halter  strap,  steps  to  the  left,  and 


^196  — 


the  engraving  below  will  show  the  horse  as  thrown.  The  man  who 
ho'.ds  the;  h  liter  strap  quickly  passes  down  the  horse's  back  to  his 
hips  and  pulls  the  horse's  head  to  his  shoulder,  thereby  preventing 


—  197  — 

him  from  getting  np.  Now  put  on  your  driving  bridle,  surcingle 
and  safety  strap.  Commence  the  training  by  letting  him  get  up  and 
handling  him  the  same  as  a  runaway,  kicker  or  colt. 

Will  You  Answer  these  Questions  ? 

Can  a  cribbing  horse  be  cured  ?    Ko. 

Can  ringbones  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  spavins  be  cured  ?    Kot  after  they  have  become  seated. 

Can  heaves  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  shoe  boils  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  blindness  be  cured  ?     No. 

Can  nervicular  lameness  be  cured  ?    Not  after  long  standing. 

Can  splints  be  cured  ?    No. 

Do  you  approve  of  cor.dition  powder  ?  Yes,  if  made  fresli  every 
spring  from  receipts  givon  'r.  my  bcc.r.  Co^^lition  powders  that  lie 
in  stores  for  five  or  ten  years  are  not  very  valuable.  The  strength 
of  the  medicine  must  be  gone.  I  would  advise  all  horse  owners  not 
to  waste  their  money  in  buying  such  trash. 

Can  contracted  feet  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  sprung  knees  be  cured  ?    Na 

Can  curb  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  bog  spavin  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  a  meaner  be  cured  ?    No. 

Can  a  corn  from  long  standing  be  cured  ?    No. 

Questioju  How  would  you  break  a  yoke  of  steers  and  a  kicking 
cow? 

Answer.  First  get  your  steer  into  a  room  or  small  yard,  so  that 
he  can  not  run  from  you  ;  then  approach  him  slowly,  and  if  he  runs 


—  198  — 

do  not  be  in  a  hurry,  but  wait  until  he  gets  to  the  end  of  the  roon} 
or  yard ;  then  approach  him  slowly,  as  before.  A  steer  may  run 
from  you  in  this  way  several  times ;  but  do  not  try  and  stop  him 
with  your  whip,  or  force  him  to  think  that  he  will  be  at  all  injured, 
until  he  will  stand  and  suffer  you  to  approach  him.  As  soon  as  this 
is  accomplished  gently  tie  a  rope  around  his  body  near  the  shoulders, 
rather  loosely.  Then  take  another  strap  or  rope,  and  gently  fasten 
one  end  to  the  near  fore  foot ;  then  pass  the  other  end  over  the  rope 
or  surcingle,  beneath  the  body.  This  rope  should  be  sufficiently 
long  to  allow  him  to  run  to  the  end  of  the  yard  without  your  moving, 
at  the  same  time  you  holding  the  rope  sufficiently  firm  '  >  compel 
him  to  move  on  three  legs.  Then  approach  him  again  quietly,  and 
so  continue  until  he  will  allow  you  to  approach  and  handle  him  as 
you  please.  Now  take  a  short  hold  of  the  strap  with  your  left  hand, 
your  whip  in  the  right,  which  pass  over  his  shoulders,  and  quietly 
touch  him  on  the  off-side  of  the  head,  at  the  same  time  saying, 
"  haw,''  and  continue  this  until  he  moves  his  head  a  little  toward 
you.  They  understand  what  you  require  of  them  while  yoked  to- 
gether. 

If  your  steers  have  learned  to  run  away  from  you,  which  is  a  com- 
mon result  of  the  ordinary  method  of  training,  put  on  the  rope  and 
Ftrap  to  the  foot.  If  hitched  to  a  wagon  or  sled,  let  your  man 
hold  the  foot- strap,  which  runs  back  between  the  steers,  and  the 
moment  they  attempt  to  run  away  he  pulls  up  their  feet,  while  you 
whip  them  over  the  head,  which  will  stop  them  immediately  and  in 
a  short  time  break  up  the  habit. 

Kicking  Cows. 

It  is  natural  for  the  cow  to  stand  while  being  milked,  consequently 
the  heifer  knows  nothing  about  kicking  until  hurt  or  frightened 
into  it.  The  lesson  in  regard  to  heifers  is  therefore  perfectly  plain. 
Be  careful  and  not  hurt  or  frighten  them.  If  by  accident  you  should, 
and  they  kick,  do  not  punish  them  for  it.  Kindness  and  gentle 
handling  is  the  only  remedy.  If  your  cow  kicks,  let  your  reasoning 
for  the  cause  be  based  upon  the  principle  that  she  never  kicked  un- 
til she  was  injured,  and  the  remedy  will  at  once  suggest  itself.  No 
cow  was  ever  broken  of  kicking  by  striking  with  the  stool  or  other 


—  199  — 

«^eapon.  This  practice  only  puts  the  cow  on  her  guard,  and  as  you 
come  near  her  with  the  stool  she  uses  nature's  defense  and  kicks. 
Handle  her  gently.  If  she  walks  off  or  kicks,  pay  no  attention  to  it, 
using  no  loud  words  or  blows.  If  her  teats  are  sore,  she  is  quite  lia- 
ble to  do  either ;  and  you  must  have  patience  till  they  are  healed. 
In  our  experience  we  have  never  found  a  confirmed  kicker  in  a  yard 
where  kindness  was  a  characteristic  of  the  family  who  handled  the 
dairy.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  found  plenty  of  them  where 
quarreling,  loud  words,  and  general  bad  temper  prevailed. 

r 

Ladies'  Equestrian  Horsemanship. 

The  saddlery  for  the  use  of  the  ladies  is  similar  in  principle 
to  that  devoted  to  gentlemen's  riding,  with  the  exception  that 
the  bits  and  reins  of  the  bridle  are  lighter  and  more  orna- 
mental and  the  saddle  furnished  with  crutches  for  side  riding  ; 
the  reins  are  narrower  than  those  used  by  the  gentlemen,  but 
otherwise  the  same.  The  ddle  should  be  carefully  fitted  to 
the  horse  and  there  should  n  I  ways  be  a  third  crutch,  the  use  of 
which  will  hereafter  be  explained.  There  is  an  extra  leather  girth, 
which  keeps  the  flaps  o'  '.'  'die  in  their  places.      The  stirrup 

may  be  either  like  a  man'  ha  lining  of  leather  or  velvet,  or 
it  may  be  a  slipper,  which  safer  and  also  easier  to  the  foot. 
The  lady's  whip  is  a  light  affair,  but  as  her  horse  ought  seldom 
to  require  punishment,  it  is  carried  more  to  threaten  than  to 
give  punishment.  A  spur  may  be  added  for  a  lady's  use  ;  it  is 
sometimes  needful  for  the  purpose  of  giving  a  stimulus  at  the 
right  moment.  If  used,  it  is  buckled  on  to  the  boot,  and  a 
small  opening  is  made  in  the  habit  with  a  string  attached  to  the 
inside,  which  is  then  tied  around  the  ankle,  and  thus  keep  the 
spur  always  projecting  beyond  the  folds  of  the  habit.  A  nose 
martingale  is  generally  added  for  ornament  ;  but  no  horse  which 
throws  his  head  up  is  fit  for  ladies'  use.  The  lady's  horse  ought 
to  be  a  most  perfect  goer,  instead  of  being,  as  it  often  is,  a  stupid 
bru^e,  fit  only  for  a  dray. 

Many  me/i  think  that  any  horse  gitfed  with  a  neat  outline  will 
carry  a  lady  ;  but  it  is  a  great  mistake  ;  and  if  the  ladies  them- 
themselve/.  had  the  choice  of  horses  they  would  soon  decii'..  >  the 
contrary.   The  only  thing  in  their  favor^  in  choosing  a  lady's  horse, 


—  200  — 

is  that  the  weight  to  be  carried  is  generally  light,  and  therefore 
a  horse  calculated  to  carry  them  is  seldom  fit  to  mount  a  man, 
because  the  weight  of  the  male  sex  is  generally  so  much  above 
that  of  an  equestrian  lady.  Few  of  this  sex  who  ride  are  above 
one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds,  and  most  are  below  that  weight. 
But  in  point  of  soundness,  actio^^  mxnth  and  temper,  the  ladv's 
horse  should  be  unimpeachable.  A  gentleman's  horse  may  be 
good  yet  wholly  nnable  to  canter  and  so  formed  that  he  cannot 
be  taught ;  he,  therefore,  is  unsuited  to  a  lady  ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  every  lady's  horse  should  do  all  his  paces  well. 
Many  ladies,  it  is  true,  neve?  trot ;  but  they  should  not  be  fur- 
nished with  the  excuse  that  they  cannot  because  their  horses 
will  not.  In  size,  the  lady's  horse  should  be  about  fifteen  hands 
or  from  fourteen  and  a  half  to  fifteen  and  a  half  ;  less  than  this 
allows  the  habit  to  trail  in  the  dirt,  and  more,  makes  the  horse 
too  lofty  and  unwieldy  for  a  lady's  use.  In  breaking  a  lady's 
horse,  if  he  is  of  good  temper  and  fine  mouth,  little  need  be 
done  to  make  him  canter  easily,  and  with  the  right  leg  foremost. 
This  is  necessary,  because  the  other  log  is  uncomfortable  to  the 
rider  from  her  side  position  on  the  saddle.  The  breaker,  there- 
fore, should  adopt  the  means  elsewhere  described,  and  persevere 
until  the  horse  is  quite  accustomed  to  the  pace,  and  habitually 
starts  off  with  the  right  leg.  He  should  also  bend  him  thor- 
oughly, so  as  to  make  him  canter  well  on  his  hind  legs  and  not 
with  the  disturbed  action  which  one  so  often  sees.  The  curb 
must  be  used  for  this  purpose,  but  without  bearing  too  strongly 
upon  it.  The  horse  must  be  brought  to  his  pace  by  fine  hand- 
ling rather  than  by  force,  and  by  occasional  pressure,  which  he 
•will  yield  to  and  play  with  if  allowed,  rather  than  by  a  dead  pull. 
In  this  way,  by  taking  advantage  of  every  inch  yielded,  and  yet 
not  going  too  far,  the  head  is  gradually  brought  in  and  the  hind 
legs  as  gradually  are  thrust  forward,  so  as  instinctively  to  steady 
the  mouth  and  prevent  the  pressure  which  is  feared.  When 
this  '<  sitting  on  the  haunches"  is  accomplished,  a  horse  cloth 
may  be  strapped  on  the  near  side  of  the  saddle  to  accustom  him 
to  the  flapping  of  the  habit ;  but  I  have  always  found  in  an  ordi- 
nary good  tempered  horse,  that,  if  the  paces  and  mouth  were  all 
perfect,  the  habit  is  sure  to  be  borne. 

It  is  a  kind  of  excuse  which  gentlemen  are  too  apt  to  make 
that  their  horses  have  never  carried  a  lady  ;  but  if  they  carry  » 


—  201  — 

gentleman  quietly  they  will  always  carry  a  lady  in  the  same 
style,  though  they  may  not  perhaps  be  suitable  to  her  seat  or 
hand.  The  directions  for  holding  the  reins,  and  for  their  use, 
elsewhere  given,  apply  equally  well  to  ladies,  the  only  difference 
being  that  the  knee  prevents  the  hand  being  lowered  to  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle.  This  is  one  reason  why  the  neck  requires 
to  be  more  bent  foi  the  gentleman^s  use,  because,  if  it  is  straight, 
or  at  all  ewe-necked,  the  hands  being  high  raise  the  head  into 
the  air  and  make  the  horse  more  of  a  ^^  star-gazer ''  than  he 
otherwise  would  be.  Many  ladies  hold  the  reins  as  in  driving. 
It  is  in  some  respects  better,  because  it  allows  the  hand  to  be 
lower  than  the  gentleman's  mode,  and  the  ends  of  the  reins  fall 
better  over  the  habit.  In  mounting,  the  horse  is  held  steadily, 
as  for  a  gentleman's  use,  taking  care  to  keep  him  well  up  to  the 
place  where  the  lady  stands,  from  which  he  is  very  apt  to  slide 
away.  The  gentleman  assistant  then  places  his  right  hand  on 
his  right  knee,  or  a  little  below  it,  and  receives  the  lady's  left 
foot.  Previously  to  this  she  should  have  taken  the  rein  in  her  right 
hand,  which  is  placed  on  the  middle  crutch,  then,  with  her  left 
hand  on  the  gentleman's  shoulder  and  her  foot  in  his  hand,  she 
makes  a  spring  from  the  ground  and  immediately  stiffens  her 
left  leg,  using  his  hand,  steadied  by  his  knee,  as  a  second  foun- 
dation for  a  spring,  and  then  she  is  easily  lifted  to  her  seat  by 
the  hand  following,  and  finishing  her  spring  with  what  little 
force  is  required.  As  she  rises  the  hand  still  keeps  hold  of  the 
crutch,  which  throws  the  body  sideways  on  the  saddle,  and  then 
she  lifts  her  right  knee  over  the  middle  crutch.  After  this  she 
lifts  herself  up  from  the  saddle,  and  the  gentleman  draws  her 
habit  from  under  her  until  smooth,  he  then  places  her  left  foot 
in  the  stirrup,  including  with  it  a  fold  of  her  habit,  and  she  is 
firmly  seated,  and  should  take  her  reins  and  use  them  as  directed 
for  the  gentleman.  The  great  mistake  which  is  constantly  made 
in  mounting  is  in  the  use  of  the  lady's  knee,  which  should  be 
carefully  straightened  the  moment  it  can  be  effected,  for  if  kept 
bent  it  requires  a  great  power  to  lift  a  lady  into  the  saddle, 
whereas,  with  a  good  spring  and  a  straight  knee,  she  ought  to 
weigh  but  a  few  pounds  in  the  hand.  The  lady's  seat  is  very 
commonly  supposed  to  be  a  weak  one,  and  to  depend  entirely 
upon  balance  ;  but  this  is  the  greatest  possible  mistake,  and 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  from  what  is  seen  in  private  as  well  as  ia 


—  202  — 

the  circus,  that  it  requires  as  great  an  effort  of  the  horse  to  dis- 
lodge a  good  female  rider  as  to  produce  the  same  effect  upon  a 
gentleman.  Even  with  the  old  single  crutch  there  was  a  good 
hold  with  the  leg,  but  now  that  the  third  is  added,  the  grip  is 
really  a  firm  one.  When  this  is  not  used  the  crutch  is  laid  hold 
of  by  the  right  leg  and  pinched  between  the  calf  of  the  leg  and 
the  thigh,  so  as  to  afford  a  firm  and  steady  hold  for  the  whole 
body,  especially  when  aided  by  the  stirrups.  But  this  latter 
support  merely  preserves  the  balance,  and  is  useful  also  in 
trotting.  It  does  not  at  all  give  a  firm,  steady  seat,  though  it 
adds  to  one  already  obtained  by  the  kuee.  When  two  crutches 
are  used,  the  leg  is  brought  back  so  far  as  to  grasp  the  crutch  as 
before,  but  between  the  two  knees  the  two  crutches  are  firmly 
laid  hold  of,  the  upper  one  being  under  the  right  knee  and  the 
lower  one  above  the  left.  The  right  knee  hooked  over  the 
crutch  keeps  the  body  from  slipping  backwards,  while  the  left 
keeps  it  from  a  forward  motion,  and  thus  the  proper  position  is 
maintained.  In  all  cases  the  right  foot  should  be  kept  back  and 
the  point  of  the  toe  should  scarcely  be  visible.  These  points 
should  be  carefully  kept  in  view  by  all  lady  riders,  and  they 
should  learn  as  soon  as  possible  to  steady  themselves  by  the 
grasp  of  the  crutches  without  reference  to  the  stirrup-iron.  In 
spite  of  her  side  seat,  the  body  should  be  square  to  the  front, 
with  the  elbow  easily  beut  and  preserved  in  its  propper  position 
by  the  same  precaution.  The  whip  is  generally  held  in  the  right 
hand,  with  the  lash  pointing  forward  and  towards  the  left,  and 
by  this  position  it  may  be  used  on  any  part  of  the  horse's  body 
by  reaching  over  to  the  left  and  cutting  before  or  behind  the 
saddle,  or,  with  great  ease,  on  the  right  side.  Its  use  may,  there- 
fore, in  all  cases  be  substituted  for  the  pressure  of  the  leg  in  the 
description  of  the  modes  of  effecting  the  change  of  leg,  turning 
to  the  left  or  right,  or  leading  with  either  leg.  With  this  substi- 
tution, and  with  the  caution  against  all  violent  attempts  at 
coercion,  which  are  better  carried  out  by  the  fine  hand  and 
delicate  tact  of  the  lady,  all  the  feats  which  man  can  perform 
may  well  be  imitated  by  her.  In  dismounting,  the  horse  is 
brought  to  a  dead  stop,  and  his  head  held  by  an  assistant.  The 
lady  then  turns  her  knee  back  again  from  the  position  between 
the  outside  crutch,  takes  her  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,  and  sits 
completely  sideways.      She    then   puts   her  left   hand  on  the 


—  203  — 

gentleman's   shoulder,    who   places   his   right  arm    around   her 
waist  and  lightly  assists  her  to  the  ground. 

My  Idea  as  to  the  Proper  Methods  to  Pursue  in  Reg- 
ulating and  Managing  a  Government  Farm. 

The  United  States  Government  owns  ten  thousand  horses  and  firo 
thousand  mules,  the  great  majority  of  which  are  in  the  "West  on  the 
frontier.  This  stock  is  renewed  each  year  at  a  cost  of  thousands  of 
dollars.  They  buy  hundreds  of  horses  every  year,  of  these  the 
greater  part  are  "  broncos,"  or  AVestern  bred  horses.  These  horses 
cost  the  government  an  average  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  dollars 
each,  and  are  only  saddle  broken,  which  means  that  they  have  been 
ridden  two  or  possibly  three  times  each  by  a  *'bronco-buster."  These 
same  horses  can  be  bought  at  an  average  price  of  forty-five  dollars 
per  head,  wild. 

What  the  government  needs,  and  badly  needs,  is  a  government 
farm.  This  should  be  an  immense  ranch,  conveniently  located  ou 
the  frontier,  where  there  would  be  an  extensive  range,  fertile  soil  and 
at  a  point  where  it  would  be  protected  from  the  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold.  It  should  be  made  to  effect  a  three-fold  purpose.  1.  The 
breeding  of  horses  adapted  to  the  uses  of  the  army.  2.  The  train- 
ing and  education  of  such  horses.  3.  To  provide  a  hospital  and  re- 
cuperating station  for  government  horses. 

1.  It  is  an  unquestioned  fact  that  the  horses  yearly  bought  for 
the  army  are  poorly  suited  to  its  needs.  They  are  scrub-bred,  crosses 
mostly  from  heavy  draft  stallions  upon  the  light  Indian  pony,  and 
and  while  the  product  are  good  sized  horses,  they  are  lacking  in 
many  of  the  essential  qualities  of  a  war  horse. 

The  government  needs  three  distinct  styles  of  horses,  and  these  it 
cannot  obtain  in  any  other  way  than  by  breeding  them.  We  want  a 
cavalry  horse,  fleet,  nervy,  powerful — the  English  hunter  is  probaiJ 
the  best  type  of  horse  for  thi:  purpose.  We  want  artillery  hoi:es, 
horses  that  can  hurry  the  heavy  guns  forward  in  battle.  They 
should  be  short-limbed  and  close  jointed,  combined  with  strength 
and  endurance — such  horses  as  we  try  to  buy  for  our  fire  engines, 
We  want  short-legged,  powerful  animals,  for  heavy  hauling. 


—  204  — 

As  private  citizens  we  have  learned  to  some  trifling  extent  the  ne- 
cessity of  breeding  horses  for  special  purposes.  Trotters  don't  emi- 
nate  from  dung-hills,  nor  do  running  horses  spring  up  unsought 
from  the  farm  or  plain.  These  horses  are  bred  for  the  especial  pur- 
pose of  getting  speed  out  of  them,  and  men  spend  their  life  in  the 
selection  and  breeding  of  horses  for  speed.  The  government,  how- 
ever, which  pre-eminently  needs  the  best  of  horses,  horses  that  it 
cannot  buy  from  horse  breeders,  as  such  horses  are  not  raised  here, 
is  content  with  scrubs  from  the  West  and  cart  horses  from  the  Mid- 
dle States. 

2.  There  is  no  training  school  for  government  horses.  Private 
citizens  who  are  best  informed  send  their  horses  to  professional  horse 
trainers,  that  they  may  have  animals  able  and  willing  to  carry  out 
their  every  wish.  The  government  allows  each  soldier  to  train  his 
own  horse  by  the  mere  power  of  force  of  habit.  These  soldiers 
know  little  or  nothing  about  a  horse,  and  the  proper  way  to  handle 
him,  in  order  to  get  the  most  out  of  him,  and  often  valuable  horses 
are  spoiled,  or  at  best  but  poorly  broken  to  the  service  for  which 
they  are  intended.  Soldiers  are  trained  and  educated  by  men  who 
have  learned  the  proper  method  of  educating  a  soldier,  but  horses 
upon  whose  trustworthiness  and  ability  success  largely  depends, 
are  allowed  to  go  into  engagements  with  the  half  training  that 
a  soldier  can  give  them. 

On  this  government  farm  there  should  be  built  a  large  training 
academy,  in  charge  of  a  thorough  horseman,  and  every  horse  that 
leaves  the  farm  for  active  service  should  have  been  trained  and  edu- 
cated by  this  horseman  in  all  respects  and  as  thoroughly  as  the  sol- 
dier who  is  to  ride  him  in  battle. 

Even  if  the  government  should  not  breed  its  own  horses,  the 
educating  school  is  not  only  a  very  valuable  adjunct  to  the  army, 
but  would  prove  a  profitable  investment.  As  I  have  already  said, 
green  broncos  can  be  bought  at  almost  one-third  what  the  govern- 
ment pays  for  them  "  saddle  broken,"  and  such  horses  could  be 
broken,  trained  and  educated  in  this  training  academy  at  the  same 
cost  or  but  a  trifle  more,  that  they  could  be  educated  for  war  after 
being  saddle-broken — this  being  an  immense  saving  to  the  govern- 
ment every  year. 

3.  When  a  horse  is  out  of  condition  and  is  condemned  by  the  in- 


^  205  — 

spector,  the  government  sells  it  at  public  sale,  and  in  this  manner 
has  sold  thousands  of  really  valuable  animals  that  a  short  rest  and 
proper  treatment  would  have  rendered  as  good  for  service  as  ever. 

I  advocate  the  establishment  on  a  government  farm  of  a  horse  hos- 
pital, where  horses  that  are  condemned  can  be  sent,  properly  doc- 
tored and  handled  and  allowed  to  recuperate  their  strength  and 
health.  The  government  has  thrown  away  thousands  and  thousands 
of  dollars  by  having  no  such  infirmary  in  the  past,  and  I  feel  assured 
that  it  will  be  simply  a  question  of  a  short  time  till  this  scheme  ap- 
proves itself  to  Congress  and  the  people. 

I  do  not  advocate  that  this  government  farm  should  be  simply  a 
great  Western  ranch,  but  a  farm  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  Here 
all  the  grain  and  food  used  on  the  place  should  be  raised.  It  should 
be  under  the  management  of  a  horseman  of  known  and  recognized 
ability,  and  the  hospital  should  be  in  charge  of  the  best  veternarians 
that  the  country  affords. 

Not  only  would  tliis  farm  enable  Uncle  Samuel  to  give  to  his 
soldiers  the  best  of  saddle  horses,  the  best  of  artillery  animals  and 
to  his  teamsters  strong  powerful  brutes,  but  it  would  be  of  incalcula- 
ble benefit  to  the  people  at  large.  The  farmers  throughout  the  land 
have  not  yet  learned  the  necessity  of  breeding  their  horses  with  care. 
"A  colt's  a  colt"  is  still  the  saying,  and  to  pay  out  a  good  price  for  a 
stallion  fee,  is  considered  in  many  sections  as  the  height  of  folly. 
After  a  few  years  of  successful  operation  the  surplus  from  this  farm 
could,  if  deemed  advisable,  be  sold  to  the  farmers  at  a  reasonable 
profit  to  the  government,  but  still  at  prices  which  would  place  the 
best  of  animals  at  the  service  of  farmers,  and  so  do  a  great  deal 
towards  raising  the  standard  of  our  horses. 

I  believe  that  within  a  very  short  time  Congress  will  look  into 
the  merits  of  this  plan  and  adopt  it,  at  least  in  its  leading  particu- 
lars. 

Shipping  Horses. 

We  need  a  law  relating  to  the  shipment  of  horses  in  cars.  It  is 
the  shameful  practice  of  nearly  all  horse  shippers  to  crowd  and  jam 
into  one  car  as  many  horses  as  they  possibly  can.  Here  they  stand 
packed  in  like  sardines  in  a  box,  compelled  to  rida  for  hundreds  of 


—  206  — 

miles  with  no  chance  to  rest  themselves,  crowding  and  pushing  till 
they  are  all  in  a  sweat  and  then  allowed  to  cool  off  by  the  winds 
striking  them  through  the  unprotected  sides  of  the  car,  and  without 
food  or  water. 

Eailroad  companies  should  be  compelled  by  law  to  provide  suita- 
ble cars  for  the  shipment  of  horses.  These  cars  should  be  built  so 
as  to  protect  the  horses  from  the  wind,  yet  thoroughly  ventilated. 
Each  horse  should  have  room  to  rest  himself  and  a  place  for  water 
and  feed. 

One  reason  why  most  horses  that  are  shipped  are  in  bad  condition 
for  a  long  time,  becoming  acclimated,  horsemen  say,  is  that  they 
catch  cold  and  get  themselves  out  of  condition  in  the  transit. 

Let  Congress  look  into  this  matter,  order  proper  modes  of  ship- 
ping horses,  and  we  will  see  a  marked  decrease  in  diseases  among 
horses. 

Special  to  the  Farmer. 

The  necessity  for  improvement  in  farm  stock  to  meet  the  exigen- 
cies of  close  times,  of  which  considerable  has  been  said  of  late,  is 
one  which  does  not  end  with  cattle,  sheep  and  swine,  but  includes 
the  horse  stock  as  well.  Perhaps  the  improvement  in  these  other 
descriptions  of  stock  is  of  more  importance  because  of  their  greater 
numbers,  but  a  great  deal  can  be  gained  by  giving  more  att  ntion  to 
the  character  of  the  horse  produced  and  maintained  on  the  farm. 
Hors  s  c  nnot  be  dispensed  with  on  the  farm,  and  no  one  makes  the 
attemp*-,  as  the  major  part  of  the  farm  work  is  performed  with  their 
help,  but  the  cost  of  the  ir  keep  is  a  he^vy  burden.  Many  farmers  do 
not  realize  this,  because  the  food  they  consume  ii  produced  upon  the 
farm  ;  but  inasmuch  as  if  not  consumed  by  them  this  food  could  be 
sold,  or  something  saleable  raised  in  its  stead.  The  support  of  the 
horse  stock  is  a  very  material  item  of  farm  expense.  On  a  very 
large  proportion  of  farms,  if  not  upon  the  majority,  the  class  of  horses 
maintained  is  such  that  practically  no  return  is  secured  from  them 
beyond  the  labor  they  perform.  This  is  a  good  deal,  of  course,  but 
it  is  not  enough,  for  with  a  better  grade  of  foundation  stock  and 
more  care  in  the  selection  of  stallions,  the  production  of  horses  can 
be  made  to  contribute  very  handsomely  to  farm  revenues  without 


—  207-^ 


gomg  further  in  the  direction  of  breeding  than  the  usual  force  of 
farm  teams  will  justify.  There  is  a  great  demand  in  this  country 
for  good  horses,  and  it  is  so  diversified  in  its  character  and  so  wide  in 
its  extent,  that  practically  it  can  never  be  overdone.  The  farmer 
need  not  be  restricted  to  any  one  type  of  horse,  and  if  he  has  any 
preferences  in  the  matter  they  may  safely  be  consulted,  since  every 
really  good  horse  finds  ready  sale.  But  whatever  the  type  selected 
the  farmer  should  always  breed  for  stoutness  and  stamina,  with  a  fair 
measure  of  style  and  a  movement  and  disposition  suited  to  the  pur- 
pose for  which  the  animal  is  to  be  ultimately  devoted.  And  the 
effort  should  constantly  be  made  to  produce  animals  for  some  par- 
ticular purpose,  and  stallions  patronized  with  the  power  to  produce 
just  the  kind  of  a  horse  the  farmer  desires,  avoiding  the  nondescripts 
at  the  "  Cross  Eoads"  who  throw  colts  too  slow  to  trot,  too  light  to 
pull,  and  without  style  and  character  for  anything  else.  We  know 
of  many  farmers  so  negligent  in  this  matter  as  to  maintain  teams  of 
geldings  for  farm  work.  If  a  farmer  wishes  and  can  aiford  a  driving 
team  in  which  his  personal  pleasure  is  a  fair  compensation  for  their 
keep,  he  has  as  good  a  right  to  such  horses  as  anybody;  but  as  for 
horses  maintained  simply  for  farm  purposes,  we  have  often  thought 
that  a  farmer  had  full  as  much  use  for  a  plug  hat  in  the  harvest 
field  as  for  a  team  of  geldings  at  the  reaper. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  a  few  remarks  to  the  farmers  of  America 
would  be  well  received. 

As  regards  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  farmers  of  this  country, 
their  farms  are  so  conveniently  located  that  they  are  enabled  to  haul 
to  market  the  products  of  their  farm  in  the  shape  of  hay,  grain,  etc., 
which  is  done  to  a  great  extent.  Having  been  giving  daily  exhibi- 
tions for  fifteen  years,  I  have  noticed  in  my  travels  the  great  number 
of  farms  that  were  badly  run  down,  the  soil  fast  wearing  out,  build- 
ings, neglected,  etc.  On  inquiry  I  found  that  many  were  heavily 
mortgaged,  and  the  parties  working  the  land  barely  making  a  living; 
also  for  years  that  nearly  all  the  produce  from  these  farms  had  been 
sold  and  consumed  away  from  the  farms,  and  scarcely  anything  re- 
turned to  the  land  in  shape  of  manure  or  fertilizers,  which  all  land 
in  this  country  must  have  in  order  to  keep  it  productive. 

There  could  of  course  be  but  one  end  to  such  management  as  this, 
the  farm  would  year  after  year  produce  less,  until  it  would  even- 


—  208  — 

hially  prove  worthless,  and  its  owner  made  poorer  and  poorer.  In 
my  opinion  such  farms  can  be  brought  back  to  their  former  produc- 
tiyeuess  by  gradually  returning  to  the  soil  what  has  been  taken  from 
it  in  the  shape  of  manure  and  fertilizers.  This  will  take  time,  and 
must  of  necessity  be  done  slowly  by  the  farmer,  that  is,  year  by  year, 
as  fast  as  they  are  able.  I  then  revolved  in  my  mind  that  that  would 
be  the  most  practical  way  of  accomplishing  this  result.  One  way  to 
do  it  is  by  a  considerable  expenditure  of  money  in  buying  manures, 
etc.,  but  as  naturally  would  be  the  case  the  parties  owning  farms  in 
such  condition  are  generally  not  able  to  afford  such  an  outlay. 
Another  way,  and  it  strikes  me  as  the  best  way,  is  to  raise  and  keep 
stock  on  the  farms,  so  as  to  consume  the  hay,  grain,  etc.,  that  they 
may  raise,  and  thus  have  manure  to  put  back  on  your  land.  This 
followed  up,  year  by  year,  your  land  will  begin  to  increase  in  pro- 
ductiveness, gradually  more  stock  can  be  kept,  and  the  farms  Avill  in 
a  few  years  become  restored  to  their  former  usefulness.  Feed  the 
products  of  your  farm  to  your  stock  and  then  realize  from  sales  of 
your  stock.  You  will  realize  more  in  this  way  and  with  less  labor  to 
yourselves  and  families,  and  will  be  adding  to  the  value  of  your 
farms,  instead  of  depreciating  them. 

The  next  question  that  comes  up  will  be  what  kind  of  stock  will 
be  the  most  profitable  to  raise,  taking  all  things  into  consideration, 
to  accomplish  this  result,  which  must  be  accomplished  and  cannot 
be  commenced  too  soon,  or  the  farmers  of  the  country  will  many  of 
them)  soon  be  in  a  condition  that  they  cannot  make  a  living  off  their 
farms. 

My  mind  naturally  reverts  to  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky, 
where  the  farms  are  used  almost  entirely  for  raising  stock,  but  very 
little  land  being  cultivated  aside  from  the  purpose  of  raising  grain 
for  their  stock.  Their  lands  are  very  rich  and  strong,  their  locality 
has  become  celebrated  as  a  stock  region,  and  every  day  their  hotels 
are  filled  with  buyers  from  different  parts  of  the  world,  taking  their 
stock  away  and  leaving  their  money  in  return.  Kentucky  has  be- 
come mainly  celebrated  for  its  fine  horses,  and  they  are  in  demand 
from  all  over  the  world.  Many  states  can  do  as  well  as  Kentucky, 
and  in  a  few  years  can  make  a  good  start  in  raising  horses,  and  it 
strikes  me  that  it  would  be  a  move  in  the  right  direction,  and  should 
be  followed  up  by  every  farmer.     Good  horses  are  ahvays  desirable 


—  209  — 

and  saleable  and  at  a  good  paying  price.  Many  of  our  farmers  do 
keep  stock  and  tliey  can  tell  you  of  its  value  in  keeping  up  their 
farms.  Large  dairies  are  in  existence,  some  producing  butter,  some 
hauling  to  the  cheese  factory  and  others  sendmg  their  milk  to  the 
cities.  The  making  of  butter  makes  a  great  deal  of  work  on  the  farm, 
viz.:  care  of  cows,  milking  them,  then  the  labor  about  the  house 
making  the  butter,  caring  for  cans,  etc.  Now,  every  farmer  who  will 
take  the  trouble  to  figure  up  the  cost  of  this  labor  at  its  market 
value  must  know  that  there  is  no  money  in  making  butter  at  present 
prices.  Then  look  at  the  sta*e  of  the  ca:e,  when  milk  is  taken  to 
the  factory  to  be  made  into  cheese.  Figure  up  the  cost  of  keeping  a 
cow  one  year,  your  time  in  caring  for  cows,  milking,  hauling  to  fac- 
tory, wear  and  tear  of  horses,  wagons,  etc.,  expense  of  cans,  interest 
on  investment,  and  tell  me  if  a  gross  return  of  twenty-five  dollars  to 
thirty  dollars  per  cow  on  an  average  will  pay  you  for  all  this  labor, 
etc.  Now,  as  regards  raising  horses,  which  it  seems  to  me  will  pay 
the  farmer  better  than  any  other  kind  of  stock  raising,  you  are 
wonderfully  favored  in  having  access  to  the  very  best  stallions  that 
can  be  found  anywhere  in  the  broad  land,  stallions  of  the  very  best 
quality,  the  highest  type  and  the  very  best  blood  lines,  whether  for 
the  draft,  the  farm,  the  coach,  road  or  track  purposes. 

A  colt  can  be  raised  to  three  years  of  age  at  about  the  same  price 
as  a  steer,  the  only  extra  expense  in  doing  so  being  the  service  price 
of  a  stallion,  and  this  is  more  than  covered  by  the  extra  price  they 
will  sell  for,  even  at  common  prices  bringing  three  to  five  times  the 
value  of  the  steer.  Where  good  mares  are  bred,  the  produce  will  sell 
for  twice  or  three  times  the  common  price,  which  then  makes  it  very 
profitable.  The  brood  mare  can  be  used  carefully  during  pregnancy, 
so  that  she  will  earn  her  keeping.  The  fonl  at  three  years  old  can 
be  broken  to  light  work  about  the  farm  and  wdll  earn  his  living  until 
sold.  Many  will  be  sold  from  weaning  time  up.  If  a  steer  can  be 
raised  in  this  country  and  sold  at  from  $50  ta  $60,  how  much  more 
profit  is  there  in  raising  a  foal  that  at  the  same  age  will  bring 
$150  to  $500,  and  when  an  extra  good  one  is  raised,  the  price 
will  run  up  into  the  thousands.  A  farmer  in  m}  county  with  whom 
I  am  acquainted  breeds  one  mare  every  year  to  one  of  the  best  stal- 
lions, and  he  assures  me  that  this  one  mare  is  worth  more  money 
than  the  gross  income  of  his  wdiole  farm  of  oup^  hundred  acres. 


—  210  — 

Breed  as  good  a  mare  as  you  can  afford  to  own  ;  breed  to  as  good  a 
stallion  as  you  leel  that  you  can  afibrd  to  use,  but  always  keep  in 
view  the  general  useful  qualities  of  the  horse  for  any  work  covering 
good  size,  fifteen  and  one-half  to  sixteen  and  one  half  hands,  good 
strong  bone,  heavily  muscled,  good  disposition,  good  appearance, 
with  soundness  of  parts  and  well-gaited  and  high  breeding,  and  you 
will  not  go  astray.  Above  all,  avoid  the  use  of  cheap,  low  bred 
country  stallions  standing  at  a  low  fee  and  dear  at  that ;  also  horses  of 
unfashionable  colors,  and  those  that  entail  upon  their  stock  white 
faces  and  three  or  four  white  feet.  Such  stock  is  not  popular,  and  if 
buvers  can  be  got  to  buy  them  it  will  be  at  a  reduced  price.  A 
colt  from  a  high  bred  horse  can  be  raised  as  cheap  as  that  from  a 
low  bred  one,  but  when  you  come  to  sell  him,  the  one  by  the  high 
bred  horse  will  sell  for  two  or  three  times  as  much.  Buyers  appre- 
ciate the  value  of  good  blood  and  will  pay  more  for  it,  because  their 
experience  has  taught  them  that  it  is  worth  more  and  will  sell  more 
rapidly.  Feed  your  colts  liberally  and  they  will  well  repay  you  for 
your  liberality  by  making  better  horses  at  three  and  four  years  of 
asre  than  thev  would  if  half  fed  at  six  vears  old. 

I  have  presented  these  thoughts  to  you  as  I  hastily  jotted  them 
down,  but  I  have  probably  said  enough  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
matter  so  that  you  can  fully  consider  it. 


What  Errors  in  Feeding  will  Do,  and  How  to  Prevent 
Diseases  of  the  Digestive  Organs. 

With  very  rare  exceptions  diseases  of  the  digestive  organs  are  re- 
sults of  errors  in  feeding,  and  all  observations  point  to  the  conclusion 
that  in  the  horse  the  intestines  are  more  liable  to  suffer  from  disease 
than  the  stomach.  The  stomach  of  a  horse  is  a  simple  organ,  small 
in  comparison  to  the  size  of  the  animal  and  in  contrast  with  the  vol- 
ume of  the  intestines.  It  is  but  slightly  called  into  action  during 
the  digestive  process,  and.  provided  the  food  be  properly  masticated 
and  incorporated  with  the  salivary  secretions,  it  is  arrested  for  a 
short  time  only  in  the  stomach,  but  is  passed  onward  into  the  intes- 
tinal canal,  where  the  process  of  digestion  is  completed.  On  this 
account  the  intestines  are  more  liable  to  disease.     It  is  also  a  remark- 


—  211  - 

able  fact  that  easily  digested  food,  if  given  over  abundantly,  is  apt 
to  derange  the  small  intestines;  whereas  food  containing  much 
woody  fibre,  such  as  over-ripe  hay,  coarse  straw,  etc.,  accumulates  in 
the  large  intestines  and  there  causes  derangement,  inflammation  and 
even  paralysis  of  the  intestinal  muscular  tissue.  It  is  also  a  fact 
worthy  of  notice,  that  if  food  be  given  artificially  prepared,  by  boil- 
ing or  steaming,  it  is  retained  in  the  stomach  itself,  and  if  given  in 
too  large  quantities  causes  distension,  inflammation,  paralysis  and 
even  rupture.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the  circumstance  that  food 
imperfectly  prepared  for  intestinal  digestion  is  retained  or  imprisoned 
by  the  action  of  the  pyloric  structures,  and  thus  distends  the  stomach 
by  its  bulk  or  by  gases  evolved  by  the  process  of  fermentation,  which 
is  apt  to  ensue. 

The  food  of  the  horse  contains  an  abundant  quantity  of  starchy 
materials,  and  the  process  by  which  these  are  rendered  soluble  com- 
mences in  the  mouth,  not  only  by  their  admixture  with  the  salivary 
secretions,  but  by  a  chemical  change  through  which  the  non-sol nble 
starch  is  converted  into  dextrine  and  grape  sugar,  and  made  fit  for 
the  action  of  the  Intestinal,  bilary  and  gastric  secretions,  and  for  ab- 
sorption by  the  vessels  of  the  gastric  and  intestinal  walls.  For  the 
purpose  of  performing  this  process  the  horse  is  provided  with  twenty- 
four  millstones,  in  the  form  of  molar  teeth,  which  have  the  power  of 
crushing  and  triturating  the  hardest  food,  and  of  an  extensive  sys- 
tem of  salivary  organs  which  secrete  very  actively  during  the  process 
of  mastication,  a  fluid  which  effectively  blends  with  and  chemically 
changes  the  food  thus  triturated.  On  this  account  it  is  found  that 
when  horses  are  sufficiently  but  not  overly  fed  with  dry  food  of  a 
proper  quantity,  the  stomach  rarely  suffers  from  disease.  An  error 
in  the  diet,  however,  or  a  sudden  change  from  one  kind  of  food  to 
another,  not  only  deranges  the  stomach,  but  the  intestinal  canal  as 
well. 

From  various  causes,  such  as  improper  food,  the  process  of  denti- 
tion, diseases  of  the  teeth  causing  imperfect  mastication,  ravenous 
feeding,  the  presence  of  other  diseases,  debility  of  the  stomach  itself, 
resulting  from  some  constitutional  predisposition,  or  from  food  given 
at  uncertain  and  rare  intervals,  a  condition  of  indigestion  is  in- 
duced in  the  horse.  In  young  animals  the  same  is  induced  by 
draughts  of  cold  milk,  removal  from  the  dam  at  too  early  an  age,  or 


—  212  — 

what  is  commonly  the  case  in  some  places,  compelling  the  dam  to 
work  shortly  after  the  birth  of  the  offspring,  and  allowing  it  to  suckle 
at  rare  intervals  and  when  the  dam  is  heated.  In  the  horse  the 
symptoms  of  indigestion  are  loss  of  appetite,  or  depravity  and  capri- 
ciousness  of  it,  manifested  by  the  horse  eating  at  irregular  intervals,  or 
having  a  desiie  to  eat  filth,  with  sourness  of  the  mouth  and  usually 
increased  thirst.  The  animal  soon  becomes  hide  bound,  has  a  dry, 
scurfy  skin;  there  is  irregularity  of  the  bowels  and  frequent  escape 
of  flatus  by  the  auus.  If  caused  by  imperfectly  masticated  food, 
such  as  whole  oats  or  coarse  hay,  these  may  be  found  in  the  fseces. 
In  addition  to  the  above  diagnostic  symptoms,  there  may  be  a  dry 
cough,  or  irregularity  of  the  pulse,  which  may  be  slower  or  faster 
than  natural ;  colicky  pains  may  also  be  present  in  some  cases,  oc- 
curring more  particularly  in  an  hour  or  two  after  the  animal  has  par- 
taken of  its  food,  whilst  in  others  fits  of  giddiness,  and  even  paralysis, 
occurs;  the  latter  condition  being  not  seldom  seen  in  cattle,  and 
very  often  in  horses. 

•  In  the  young  animal  the  above  symptoms  are  more  commonly  as- 
sociated with  diarrhcea  than  in  the  older  ones,  in  which  constipation 
is  generally  present.  The  faeces  often  resemble  the  color  of  the  food ; 
for  example,  if  the  horse  is  fed  on  dark  colored  hay  or  clover,  the 
fgeces  will  be  dark  colored  also ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  fed  on  oats, 
the  faeces  will  be  light  in  color  ;  and  in  the  young  animal,  when  fed  on 
milk,  it  will  often  resemble  it  both  in  color  and  consistence,  mixed, 
however,  with  large  masses  of  curdled  milk,  and  often  very  foetid. 
It  has  often  been  noticed  that  when  indigestion  is  induced  by  clover 
the  urine  is  very  dark  in  color,  and  deposits  a  thick,  almost  brick- 
colored  sediment.  This  condition  of  the  urine,  however,  need  cause 
no  apprehension,  as  it  is  often  seen  in  the  clover -fed  animal  without 
any  disease  being  present.  Indigestion  is  a  fertile  source  of  deposits 
in  the  urine,  which  results  from  imperfect  nutrition  of  the  tissues, 
or  a  chemical  change  in  the  constituents  of  the  blood-plasma,  due 
to  the  products  being  imperfectly  prepared  or  containing  some  ma- 
terial unfit  for  healthy  nutrition. 

In  the  treatment  of  indigestion,  the  cause  ought  to  be  carefully 
inquired  into  and  removed.  If  due  to  the  process  of  dentition,  the 
presence  of  unshed  crowns  of  the  temporary  teeth  irritating  and 
woundmg  the  mouth,  or  to  any  irregularity  of  the  dental  apparatus, 


—  213  — 

these  must  be  attended  to  according  to  the  directions  laid  down  under 
their  several  heads.  lu  all  instances  where  such  causes  are  not  in 
operation,  even  when  the  cause  cannot  be  traced  to  the  food,  ,it  will 
be  necessary  to  make  some  alteration  in  the  diet  and  to  examine  the 
various  alimentary  matters  in  order  to  detect  the  offending  one  if 
possible.  If  the  di  irrhcei  is  not  excessive  and  the  animal  thereby 
much  debilitated,  it  would  be  advisable  to  give  a  mild  aperient  or  a 
moderate  cathartic.  To  the  young  animal  a  dose  of  castor  oil  or  lin- 
seed oil,  to  the  older  a  moderate  dose  of  aloes,  combined  with  a  veg- 
etable bitter,  ginger  or  gentian.  In  foals  pepsin  can  be  adminis- 
tered, as  in  all  probability  the  indigestion  is  due  to  imperfect  secre- 
tion of  the  gastric  glands ;  even  in  the  older  animal  this  is  often  pre- 
sumably the  case,  and  more  especially  when  the  disorder  occurs  with- 
out apparent  cause ;  the  same  remedy  will  prove  beneficial.  The 
diet  of  the  animal  is  also  to  be  carefully  conducted,  and  that  pure 
air,  moderate  exercise  and  good  grooming  are  essential  to  proper  di- 
gestion. Occurring  in  the  winter,  if  the  horse  is  thickly  covered 
with  hair,  clipping  will  have  a  beneficial  result,  restoring  the  diges- 
tion and  appetite,  which  may  have  been  long  impaired,  notwithstand- 
ing remedies,  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours. 

Distension  of  the  stomach  may  arise  from  repletion  with  solid 
food,  or  from  the  evolution  of  gases  arising"  from  solids  or  liquids 
contained  within  it  undergoing  the  process  of  fermentation,  or  dis- 
engaged from  the  gastric  w^alls  when  the  stomach  is  empty,  as  occur- 
ring in  conditions  of  great  prostration.  The  cause  of  impaction  of 
the  stomach  results  from  the  indigestion  of  food  too  abundant  in 
quantity,  or  greedily  swallowed  and  imperfectly  masticated.  In  those 
parts  of  the  country  where  the  cookmg  of  food  for  horses  is  a  com- 
mon custom,  it  is  found  that  deaths  from  diseases  and  lesion  of  the 
digestive  apparatus  are  very  common.  From  the  reasons  that  it  is 
necessary  for  the  food  to  undergo,  not  only  the  process  of  tritura- 
tion by  the  teeth,  but  that  it  requires  to  be  chemically  altered  by 
combination  with  the  saliva,  it  will  be  understood  that  food  prepared 
in  any  other  way,  as  cooking  by  boiling  and  steaming,  is  unfitted  to 
be  acted  upon  by  the  stomach,  and  is  consequently  retained  within 
it,  the  animal  meanwhile  continuing  to  eat  until  its  walls  become 
distended,  paralyzed  or  even  ruptured.  Some  kinds  of  food,  nutri- 
tious in  themselves  and  theoretically  calculated  to  be  proper  for  the 


—  214  — 

horse,  are  found  practically  to  be  liighly  dangerous.  Wheat,  for  in* 
stance,  which  is  highly  nutritious,  is  considered  to  be  improper  food, 
deranging  the  stomach,  causing  purgation,  laminitis  and  death. 
Barley  has  a  similar  effect.  When  it  becomes  compulsory  to  cook 
the  food,  it  should  be  given  with  the  greatest  caution  and  in  small 
quantities.  Bran  in  mash  or  otherwise,  musty  hay,  or  too  ripe  before 
being  cut,  barley  and  green  foods,  not  only  induces  engorgement,  but 
also  undergo  fermentation  'xi  the  stomach,  and  thus  bring  on  tym- 
panitis. 

How  Should  a  Horse  be  Fed  During  a  Hard  March  or  a 

Long  Drive. 

How  many  times  have  I  seen  farmers  and  horse  owners  before 
starting  on  a  visit  or  a  long  journey  give  their  horse  a  big  breakfast, 
saying,  "he's  got  a  hard  days  work  before  him."  About  ten  o'clock, 
when  he  has  gone  25  or  30  miles  from  home,  Mr.  Horse  lies  on  the 
side  of  the  road  with  a  good  case  of  acute  colic.  Cause  "good  break- 
fast." Now,  I  will  give  you  my  idea  of  the  way  a  horse  should  be 
fed  in  order  for  him  to  do  the  work  and  prevent  sickness.  Give  him 
a  good  big  supper.  This  allows  his  digestive  organs  all  night  to 
perform  their  functions,  and  your  horse  has  laid  up  a  reserve  for  a 
iourney.  In  the  morning  give  a  light  breakfast  of  grain,  say  four 
quarts  of  oats,  no  hay.  Same  at  noon.  Always  water  your  horse 
after,  never  before  eating.  Nevsr  drive  up  to  a  trough  when  on  the 
road  and  let  him  drink.  Use  a  pail  that  you  may  know  how  much 
he  is  drinking.  For  myself  I  do  not  approve  of  watering  a  horse 
more  than  four  times  a  day  when  on  a  journey,  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, again  at  ten  o'clock,  again  at  four  and  again  at  night  when  put- 
ting him  up  for  his  rest. 

When  you  desire  to  stop  but  a  short  time  for  dinner,  you  need  not 
wait  until  your  horse  is  cool  before  you  feed  him.  Feed  him  his 
grain  at  once,  and  as  soon  as  he  has  eaten  he  is  ready  for  business. 
A  great  many  horsemen  will  tell  you  that  there  is  danger  in  feeding 
a  horse  when  very  warm.  But  it  is  not  so.  Understand  me  cor- 
rectly, I  refer  only  to  instances  where  you  are  going  to  put  your 
horse  to  work  immediately  after  he  has  eaten  his  dinner.    Whea 


—  215  — 

warm,  his  stomach  is  expanded,  and  your  keeping  him  warm,  it  re- 
mains in  that  state.  On  the  other  hand,  if  you  allow  him  to  stand, 
the  stomach  contracts,  and  the  gas  from  the  grain  brings  on  colic. 


Taking  Care  of  Horses  when  Heated. 

It  is  the  habit  of  a  great  many  persons  when  their  horses  become 
heated  to  cover  them  with  a  great  heavy  blanket.  This  is  wrong. 
Do  not  cover  your  horse  for  about  five  minutes,  letting  him  steam. 
Then  put  on  a  light  blanket,  allow  him  to  stand  with  this  blanket 
on  for  half  an  hour,  then  remove  the  light  blanket  and  put  on  your 
heavy  one.  This  gives  the  animal  a  warm,  dry  covering,  after  you 
have  removed  the  light  blanket  which  is  wet  from  the  steam  of  the 
horse.  Follow  these  directions  and  it  will  prevent  your  horse  from 
catching  cold.  I  approve  of  giving  the  horse  a  thorough  rubbing 
first,  if  convenient. 


Care  of  Horses  in  the  Spring  of  the  Year. 

Great  care  should  be  given  the  animals  during  the  months  of 
April  and  May,  to  prepare  them  for  the  warm  weather.  As  soon  as 
the  grass  starts  your  horse  should  be  grazed  thirty  to  forty  minutes 
each  day,  and  this  as  early  in  the  morning  as  possible.  Green  grass 
will  physic  your  horse,  purify  his  blood,  and  get  the  grain  that  he 
has  been  eating  through  the  winter  months  out  of  his  system.  At 
the  same  time  that  you  are  grazing  the  hor.e,  feed  bran  mashes  and 
stop  feeding  grain  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  until  you  get  his  system 
in  a  thoroughly  good  condition.  I  would  also  advise  that  driving 
horses  with  feet  that  are  inclined  to  contract  be  walked  in  the  dew 
every  morning  through  the  summer  months.  Tliis  is  one  of  the 
greatest  treatments  in  the  world  for  softening  and  expanding  the 
horse's  feet.  It  is  much  better  than  all  the  hoof  ointment  there  is 
on  the  market,  and  it  is  a  great  deal  cheaper. 

In  cities  where  it  is  not  feasible  to  graze  your  horse,  give  him  a 
bucket  of  green  grass  cut  from  the  lawn. 


—  216  — 


Horses. 

The  number  of  horses  has  riseu  from  4,336,719  in  1850  to 
14,976,017  in  1890.  In  1850  Ohio  headed  the  list  with  463,397  ;  in 
1860,  Ohio  again,  with  623,346  ;  in  1870  Illinois  had  gone  to  the  front 
wiih  853,738,  and  at  the  front  she  remained  in  1880  with  1,023,082, 
and  in  1890  with  1,335,289  horses.  It  is  a  curious  commentary  on 
the  old  fear  that  railways  would  destroy  the  market  for  horses,  that 
their  number  has  most  increased  where  railways  have  been  most  de- 
veloped. 

In  1850  there  were  returned,  horses,  4,336,719 ;  mules  and  asses, 
559,331  ;  together,  4,896,050,  to  a  population  of  23,191,876,  or  an 
animal  of  equine  parentage  to  each  4|  inhabitants.  In  1890,  horses, 
11,976,017;  mules  and  asses,  2,296,045;  together,  27,272,062,  to  a 
population  of  62,317,194,  or  an  animal  to  each  21  inhabitants,  not- 
withstanding that  the  miles  of  railroad  had  enormously  increased  in 
the  40  years. 

It  would  be  interesting  and  instructive  to  learn  the  average  value 
of  each  animal  in  1850  and  in  1890.  Undoubtedly  the  common 
horse  of  to  day  is  a  great  deal  better  animal  and  will  sell  for  much 
more  money  than  his  predecessor  a  human  generation  ago.  Probably 
that  increase  is  one-third  to  one-half.  The  deep  and  widespread  in- 
terest in  running  and  trotting  for  their  own  sake,  as  well  as  the  efforts 
purposely  made  to  improve  horse  stock,  have  borne  abundant  and 
gratifying  fruits. 


217- 


Taken  by  districts,  the  figures  in  the  foregoing  table  are  quite  inter- 
esting and  instructive.  The  first  nine  States  form  the  North  Atlantic 
division ;  in  it  in  the  last  decade  (from  1880  to  1890)  has  been  an  in- 
crease of  11.83  per  cent,  in  horses  and  12.73  per  cent,  in  mules.  The 
next  nine  States  are  the  South  Atlantic  division,  and  in  the  past  decade 
increased  in  the  number  of  horses  9.90  per  cent.,  and  in  mules  20.31 
per  cent.  The  next  twelve  States  constitute  the  North  Central  division, 
and  increased  in  horses  51.31  per  cent.,  and  in  mules  21.80  per  cent, 
from  1880  to  1890.  The  South  Central  district  is  made  up  of  the  next 
eight  States.  The  percentage  of  increase  for  the  same  time  was  46.50 
per  cent,  horses  and  30.72  per  cent,  mules.  The  last  eleven  States  make 
up  the  Western  division,  and  between  1880  and  1890  there  was  an  in- 
csease  of  108.79  per  cent,  in  the  number  of  horses,  and  65.55  per  cent, 
in  mules.  Illinois  has  the  largest  number  of  horses  at  this  time,  and 
Missouri  the  largest  number  of  mules. 


— 

218 

— 

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5pt 

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—  219  — 


l>-  tH  r-l 

t-  CO  '^ 
CO  t^  Oi 

QO 


Oi 


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CO 


1— I  O  'rl 


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t^  UO  ^ 

l-H  t^  CO 
T-H  CO 


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t^  QO  O  O  t^  CO 

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lO  Ci  CvJ  tH  L^  (M 

CO  c<i  T-i  T— I   CO 


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CO 


GO 


o 


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o 


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,— I  c:,  :o 

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CM   CO  1>- 


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o^r  c<r  crT  Lo^  T-T  ^ 

O  O  t^  oo  CO  CO 


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O  i>.QOt>-"^Ot>>Cjt— "^GOCO 
(M       Tf(Mt-HT— I'^COClCOCSLOLO 


CO 
CO 


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T— ('MOi  '*  T— ICO  '^'^OrHOO^ 
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OC03:)      lO      LOt^       OCvlt^GSt^iO 


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1— (       GOOO^COCOCO<MiOCOOt^ 


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1—1  CO 


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lO  02  GO  t^  t^  '^ 
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rH  1--  tM  'M  t—  CO 


(M  OCt— (t-HCOt— IGOCOOCO'^CO 
O  iC.  C^GOOOiOSOrHiMO'^ 
CO       GOCOiOCOGOGOOCOCOGCCO 

bf  GO 


GO 


(M  O 


(M 


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»0  Oi  CO  '^ 
(M  L^  CO 


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coo  ^r-iiOO<MO 

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~t  c^  (m"  CO  CO  c<r  ^  o 

OCO  l>.COrHT-HOO 

(M  -t  CO  (M  rH  rH  t— I   GO 


CO  '^lOb-t^OOrHt^OGOt^O 

CO  ^-t^O-^OiCOGOO'^OT-i 

CO  rHOiC^IlOt^rHOCOOOrHt-. 

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^  COrH^T-H  COCO(MTt^i^lCO 

rH  rH  (M 


ri  GO  CO  en  —I  :m  l- 

rH   '+I   ^    O   t^   rH    CC) 

LO  CO  LO  t^  CO  lO  Ci 


C5  wi  O  lO  X'  CM  CC  oo 
'^COOlOG^ICOCMOO 

cscooot^O'^ai'^ 


lO  <M  C:>  l^  CO  '-t^  CO  <M  lO  CD  -^ 
CO'^COCO'*iO(MrH^'*CO 
CifMrHCOGiLOt— OCOOiLO 


05  rH  T-H  GO  t^  CO  LO 

'^  LO       -^  Ci 
<M 


rHCO^LOGOt^'^CO 
LO  O  CO  LO  GO  CM  G^l 
rH  (M  rH  rH     C^l 


rH  CO  CJi 


LO 


Ci  Oi  T— t  1— 1  LO  Oi  LO 
O  t^  Oi  CO  O  QO  O 
lO  O  rH  Ci  CO  t—  CO 


CO  'M  t^  O  t—  CO  ^  t^ 

tO'  -f  O  LO  t^  !>.  LO  CO 
CO  GO  Ol  O  t^  00  LO  GO 


COCOOOOi— iQOLOO<MT-i 
(MOt>.COOOOGOCOt>.COrH 
GO'^rHrHt^QOt^rHt^OiCO 


th  O-l  CO  O  O  CO  o 
CO  i-H  -fH  CO  LO  O-l  CO 

T  CO  Oi  rH  oi  CO  o:) 


rHrHrHLOCOLOLOCO 
O  rH  (M  LO  <M  (M  (M  GO 
-f  CO  rH  rH  rH  O  rH 


■^t^LOdO>^'*CO'^CO'<^LO 

'^gOlOCOt-HCOlOOOlOOIO 
rH  rH  t-h  (M  '^ 


o 

o3 


•HQ 


c3    oj 
I— I  r=H 


-^  j:i 


m 
O    g    <X> 


03 


c3 

a 


a 

o 

c5    (j3 
g3 


bo 

a  ^ 


o3    > 


be 

a 


—  220  — 


Oscar  R.   Gleason's  Original  Methods  for  Detecting 
Unsoundness  in  the  Horse. 


The  result  of  an  experience  of  over  fifteen  years  duration^  in  which  time  he 
has  handled  over  ''twenty  thousand  horses,""  which,  however,  may 
seem  incredible  to  the  reader,  but  the  truth  of  luhich  he  can  clearly  sub- 
stajitiate,  and  the  fact  demonstrated  on  referring  to  his  Journals,  giviiig 
the  owners^  names  and  addresses ^  the  kind  of  horse  and  the  character  of 
their  habits,  and  the  date  they  were  handled  by  him. 


In  meeting  with  so  many  unsound  horses  in  my  journeyings  about 
the  United  States,  I  am  awakened  to  the  fact  that  I  might  enlighten 
many  of  my  readers  by  my  original  methods  of  detecting  all  of  the 
unsound  points  about  the  horse.  In  doing  this  I  do  not  intend  to 
make  use  of  any  scientific  terms  that  belong  to  the  veterinary  college, 
but  instead  of  which  it  will  be  my  aim  to  use  plain  matter  of  fact  lan- 
guage, and  that  which  would  generally  occur  in  any  and  every  commu- 
nity where  pc  ople  reside  who  admire  and  cultivate  to  improve  that  noble 
animal  so  highly  estimated  by  man.  In  doing  this  it  is  certainly  not 
my  olject  to  induce  the  reader  to  entertain  the  idea  that  I  belong  to 
the  veterinary  school.  If,  perchance,  the  reader  should  entertain 
the  idea  let  me  here  disabuse  his  mind  with  regard  to  it.  The  veter- 
inary college  is  an  institution  of  a  very  high  order,  and  one  worthy 
of  the  patronage  of  the  rising  generation,  and  should  receive  the  en- 
couragement  of  the  whole  world. 


How  to  Examine  the  Horse. 

In  the  first  place  use  your  own  judgment  and  do  not  listen  to  what 
your  neighbors  say.  If  you  are  in  a  locality  where  you  can  get  a 
good  veterinary  to  examine  him,  I  would  advise  you  to  do  so,  unless 
you  consider  yourself  fully  qualified ;  if  such  is  the  case  with  the 
reader,  I  can  only  say  go  ahead. 


—  221  — 

Have  tlie  liorse  led  out  of  the  stable,  as  all  horses  should  be  examined 
in  the  open  air.  The  first  of  all  look  to  his  age.  For  ascertaining 
tlie  correct  age  of  the  horse  you  will  find  it  laid  down  elsewhere  in 
tliis  book.  Open  the  horse's  mouth,  look  at  his  grinders  and  see 
that  they  are  in  a  proper  condition.  Next  examine  his  eyes,  then 
his  ears,  running  your  fingers  carefully  in  them  to  see  that  there  is 
no  unnatural  growth  of  warts  or  bunches  such  as  wens,  etc.,  which 
could  not  otherwise  be  discerned,  as  thereby  many  horses  have  been 
rendered  deaf  from  such  causes.  Take  your  right  hand,  place  it  on 
the  top  of  his  head  and  feel  for  the  effects  of  Polevil,  or  any  sores  of 
any  nature  that  may  be  there.  Then  run  your  hand  back  to  his 
withers  and  examine  for  any  marks  of  the  surgeon's  knife  or  fistula, 
also  while  examining  the  mouth,  look  carefully  for  any  marks  or 
scars  that  might  be  the  result  of  the  use  of  the  knife.  Now  run 
your  hand  on  the  horse's  back  to  the  region  of  his  kidneys  to  ascer- 
tain if  there  is  any  weakness  there.  Now  stand  directly  in  front  of 
the  animal,  and  see  if  he  has  a  full  chest,  and  that  his  shoulders  are 
both  alike.  Now  look  at  his  fore  feet  and  see  if  they  are  both  the 
same  size. 

Now  pick  up  his  feet  and  see  that  the  frog  is  of  a  yielding  and 
tender  character.  See  that  he  does  not  have  "  Thrush,"  which  you 
can  detect  from  the  offensive  odor  arising  therefrom.  Now  look  on 
the  inside  of  his  front  leg  and  see  whether  he  has  splints  or  any 
unnatural  enlargements  of  any  character  or  nature.  Now,  examine 
the  hind  legs  for  bone  spavin  or  any  enlargemen  t  of  the  hock  joint,  such 
as  blood  spavins,  bog  spavin,  thorough  pin,  curve,  &c.,  &c.  Examine 
the  leaders  and  tendons.  Now  have  the  horse  trotted  at  a  slow  and 
also  a  quick  pace;  then  take  a  side  view  of  the  same  action.  Then 
have  him  backed  quickly  and  led  up  quickly,  keeping  your  eyes  on 
his  hind  legs,  looking  for  string  halt.  Now  have  him  turned  round 
short,  looking  for  any  weakness  about  his  front  legs,  in  which  he  will 
exhibit  by  dragging  one  of  his  limbs.  Also  examine  his  throat  and 
nostrils,  looking  for  any  disease  that  might  be  located  there. 

The  ears  of  a  horse  should  be  small;  broad  between  his  ears, 
broad  between  his  eyes,  with  a  large  and  full  hazel  eye,  perfectly 
level  and  straight  from  the  forehead  down  to  the  nostril,  with  a 
large,  full  nostril  and  thin.  Size  of  the  animal  varies  according  to 
what  you  want  to  use  him  for.  The  bones  of  the  horse's  leg  should  be 


—  222^ 

flat  and  with  very  little  flesh  upon  them,  showing  the  cords  ana 
leaders  perfectly.  The  foot  should  be  of  a  flat  nature.  I  have  found 
those  to  be  of  a  more  lasting  kind.  The  foot  that  contracts  easiest 
IS  of  a  high  wall  and  closed  heel.  (See  engi'aving  in  this  book  for 
perfect  horse.) 

The  reader  may  be  assisted  in  reviewing  the  following  list  of  com- 
mon terms  used  in  expressing  the  unsound  points  about  the  horse : 

Contraction  of  the  foot Unsound. 

Thrush  in  the  foot Unsound  until  cured. 

Toe  Crack Unsound. 

Quarter  Crack Unsound. 

Corn Unsound. 

Flat  foot,  when  sole  has  dropped Unsound. 

Pomace  sole,  or  any  inflammation  of  the 

laminae Unsound. 

Callousness  upon  the  knee,  caused  by  a  horse  falling  down,  or  other- 
wise, is  an  evidence  of  unsoundness. 

If  the  knee  is  swollen,  but  no  wen  or  protuberance  of  a  callous  nature, 
ound. 

As  to  the  eye,  any  disease,  even  from  the  slightest  cold  or  inflammation, 
p*itil  it  be  completely  cured  or  has  resulted  in  total  blindness,  stamp  the 
animal  as  unsound. 

In  short,  a  horse  with  either  eye  not  actually  perfect  is  unsound. 

Ringbone Unsound. 

Canker  in  the  fooc Unsound. 

Windgalls  I  consider  noc  in  the  full  sense  of  the  term  unsound,  but 
rather  as  a  blemish  brought  on  by  overwork  or  strain. 

Curb Unsound. 

Spavins  of  all  natures  and  kinds Unsound. 

Cappid  Hocks Unsound. 

Rheumatism Unsound. 

Thorough  Pins Unsound. 

Blood  Spavin Unsound. 

Bog  Spavin Unsound. 

String  halt Unsound. 

Low  hip  or  any  protuberance  of  the  hip Unsound. 

Gease  Heels,  until  cured Unsound. 

Cracked  Heels Unsound. 

Enlargement  of  the  hind  leg,  or  what  is  technically 
termed  "Klc-pliantine" Unsound. 


—  223  — 

Weak  back Unsound. 

Knuckling  of  the  pastern  joint,  or  sprung  knees Unsound. 

Stumbling,  which  is  generally  caused  by  the  weak- 
ness of  the  tendons Unsound. 

All  enlargements  of  the  sinews  or  tendons Unsound. 

Heaves,  or  broken  wind   Unsound. 

Cough,  until  cured Unsound. 

Crib  biting  Unsound. 

Wind  sucking Unsound. 

Heaving,  a  nervous  affection  not  necessarily  injurious  but  more  of  a 
hubit. 

Surfeit  or  Mange  Unsound  until  cured. 

Glanders Unsound. 

Strangles Unsound. 

Colds  and  distempers,  until  cured    Unsound. 

Enlarged  joints Unsound. 

Soft  enlargements  on  any  part  of  the  limb Unsound. 

Sore  shoulders  or  galled  backs  Unsound  until  cured. 

Horses  where  the  shoulder  has  shrunk  or  perished,  it  is  caused  by  in- 
flammation of  the  tendons,  originating  in  the  foot,  and  they  are  unsound. 

Stiff  hocks Unsound. 

Wounds  of  every  nature,  until  cured Unsound. 

Scars  of  all  kinds,  if  properly  healed,  not  leaving  a  bone  fracture,  are 
sound. 

Horses  who  cut  their  quarters  when  spading,  or  when  lying  down  in 
stall  have  caused  the  shoe  boil,  are  unsound  until  cured. 

Roman  backed  horses  are  the  most  durable  animals  we  have. 
Saddle  backed,  hollow  backed  and  low  backed  horses  may  be  considered 
sound,  but  are  nevertheless  an  eyesore  to  the  owner. 

Wall  eyed  or  moon  eyed  horses,  if  not  sightless,  I  consider  sound. 
All  humors  arising  from  impurities  of  the  blood  or  otherwise  I  consider 
an  evidence  of  unsoundness  until  cured. 

Pigeon  toed  horses,  or  horses  toeing  in,  unsound,  being  an  unnatural 
development,  liable  to  cork  themselves  or  interfere. 


Lampas. — This  is  a  fullness  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  and  is  most 
frequently  found  among  young  horses. 

Treatment — Cut  the  first  bar  in  roof  of  the  mouth,  squeezing  out 
the  blood,  then  add  a  little  salt.  IN^ever  burn  them  as  in  our  grand- 
father's days.  '!  his  is  not  considered  by  me  as  an  evidence  of  un- 
soundness, as  the  remedy  is  simple  and  effectual. 


—  224  — 

Firing  horses  for  any  enlargement  of  the  limb  or  any  other  cause, 
I  consider  a  brutal  treatment,  and  when  left  so  treated,  I  consider 
him  unsound. 

Wolf  teeth  are  two  small  teeth  and  found  on  either  side  of  the 
upper  jaw  next  to  the  grinders.  If  they  set  close  to  the  grindei 
there  is  danger  of  their  effecting  the  eye.  They  should  never  be 
knocked  out  as  is  practiced  by  many,  but  should  be  removed  by  a 
pair  of  forceps.  They  are  peculiar  to  young  horses  or  colts;  after 
they  have  been  abstracted,  I  consider  the  horse  sound.  By  a  care- 
ful perusal  of  what  I  have  said  upon  the  most  natural  causes  that 
render  the  horse  unsound,  and  a  few  suggestions  as  to  the  treatment 
of  them,  if  I  have  rendered  the  reader  any  assistance  and  saved 
the  noble  horse,  man's  true  reliance,  any  torturous  treatment,  I  am 
satisfied. 


THK    TKBTH. 


A  foal  at  birth  has  three  molars,  or  grinding  teeth,  just 
through  the  gums,  upon  both  sides  of  the  upper  and  of  the 
lower  jaws.  It  generally  has  no  incisor  or  front  teeth;  but  the 
gums  are  inflamed  and  evidently  upon  the  eve  of  bursting.  The 
molars  or  grinders  are,  as  yet,  unfiattened  or  have  not  been 
rendered  smooth  by  attrition.  The  lower  jaw,  when  the  inferior 
margin  is  left,  appears  to  be  very  thick,  blunt  and  round. 

A  fortnight  has  rarely  elapsed  before  the  membrane  ruptures 
and  two  pairs  of  front,  very  white  teeth,  begin  to  appear  in  the 
mouth.  At  first  these  new  members  look  disproportionately 
large  to  their  tiny  abiding  place,  ai.d  when  contrasted  with  the 
reddened  gums  at  their  base,  they  have  that  pretty  pearly  aspect 
which  is  the  common  characteristic  of  the  milk  teeth  in  most 
animals. 

In  another  month,  when  the  foal  is  six  weeks  old,  more  teeth 
appear.  Much  of  the  swelling  at  first  present  has  softened 
down.  The  membrane,  as  time  progresses,  will  lose  much  of 
its   scarlet   hue.     In   the   period   which   has   elapsed    since   the 


—  225  — 

former  teeth  were  looked  at,  the  sense  of  disproportionate  size 
has  gone.  The  two  front  teeth  are  now  fully  up,  and  these  arc 
almost  of  suitable  proportions.  When  the  two  pairs  of  lacteral 
incisors  first  make  their  appearance,  it  is  in  such  a  shape  as  can 
imply  no  assurance  of  their  future  form.  They  resemble  the 
corner  nippers  and  do  not  suggest  the  smallest  likeness  to  the 
lateral  incisors,  which  they  will  ultimately  become. 

There  is  now  a  long  pause  before  more  teeth  appear.  The 
little  one  lives  chiefly  upon  suction  and  runs  by  its  mother^s  side. 
Upon  the  completion  of  the  first  month,  seldom  earlier,  it  may 
be  observed  to  lower  its  head  and  nip  the  young  grass.  From 
the  third  month,  however,  the  habit  grows,  until  by  the  sixth 
month,  the  grinders  will  be  worn  quite  flat  and  have  been  reduced 
to  the  state  suited  to  their  function. 

The  corner  incisiors  come  into  the  mouth  about  the  ninth 
month,  the  four  pair  of  nippers  which  have  already  been  tracecl 
being  at  this  time  fully  developed.  The  corner  incisors,  which 
are  depicted  as  through  the  gums,  do  not  yet  meet,  though  these 
organs  2)oint  toward  each  other,  neither  has  the  membrane  of 
the  mouth  at  this  time  entirely  lost  the  deepened  hue  of  infancy. 

From  this  date,  however,  the  gums  gradually  become  pale, 
till  by  the  end  of  the  first  year,  the  membrane  has  nearly 
assumed  its  normal  complexion  during  the  earlier  period  of  ex- 
istence. All  the  incisors  are,  by  the  first  birthday,  well  up. 
The  grinding  teeth  which  are  in  the  mouth  when  the  foal  first 
sees  the  light,  are  of  a  temporary  character.  The  jaw,  therefore, 
has  to  hold  and  to  mature  the  long  permanent  grinders  which, 
within  the  substance  of  the  bone,  are  growing  beneath  the  tem- 
porary molars.  To  contain  and  to  develop  the  large  uncut 
teeth,  before  appearing  above  the  gums,  causes  the  small  jaw  of 
a  diminutive  foal  to  be  disproportionately  thick,  especially  as 
compared  with  the  same  structure  in  an  adult  horse. 

At  one  year  old  the  first  permanent  tooth  appears.  This  is 
the  fourth  molar,  or  the  most  backward  grinder  in  the  engrav- 
ing. The  jawbone  at  one  year  old  has  become  longer  and  wider. 
This  increase  of  size  was  necessary  to  cover  the  increasing  size 
of  the  new  molar  and  to  afford  room  for  the  partial  development 
of  two  other  grinders,  which  will  appear  behind  what  is  now  the 
last  tooth.  Often  little  nceules  of  bone,  without  fangs,  merely 
attached  to  the  gums,  appear  in  front  of  each  row  of  grinders. 


—  226  — 

These  are  vulgarly  denominated  '<  wolves'  teeth/'     They  genei 
ally  disappear  with  the  shedding  of  those  menibers  facing  which 
they  aie  located. 

The  changes  in  the  teeth,  after  the  first  year,  are  character- 
ized by  the  longer  periods  which  divide  them.  Months  have 
heretofore  separated  the  advent  of  single  pairs  ;  but  from  this 
date  these  appearances  are  to  be  reckoned  by  numbers  and  by 
years.  The  foal  has  teeth  sufficient  to  support  and  to  maintain 
its  growth.  Preparation  is  being  made  for  the  advent  of  the 
sixth  grinder,  and  for  changes  in  those  milk  molars  which  were 
in  the  mouth  when  the  animal  was  born.  At  the  same  time 
additional  width  is  needed  to  allow  the  permanent  incisors  to 
appear  when  their  time  comes.  In  the  front  teeth  of  a  two- 
year-old,  there  is  a  want  of  that  fixedness  which,  one  year  be- 
fore, was  characteristic  of  these  organs.  The  central  nippers 
have  done  their  duty,  or,  at  all  events,  something  approaching 
to  maturity  has  been  attained. 

Three  years  old  is  the  period  when  the  greater  number  of 
colts  are  brought  to  market.  The  bit  then  is  put  into  its 
mouth,  and  it  is  driven  froui  the  field.  At  a  period  of  change 
and  of  debility  it  is  expected  to  display  the  greatest  animation 
and  to  learn  strange  things.  When  its  gums  are  inflamed  ; 
when  the  system  is  excited  ;  when  the  strength  is  absorbed  by 
an  almost  simultaneous  appearance  of  twelve  teeth,  it  is  led 
from  the  pasture  and  made,  with  its  bleeding  jaws,  to  masticate 
sharp  oats  and  fibrous  hay. 

It  has  been  eaid  that  a  three-year-old  colt  cuts  twelve  teeth. 
The  engraving  presents  half  the  lower  jaw  of  an  animal  of  that 
age.  Those  organs  which  are  of  recent  appearance  will  be  re- 
cognized by  their  darker  color,  by  their  larger  size,  or  by  their 
differing  in  shape  from  the  other  members.  These  new  teeth 
are  a  central  incisor  and  the  first  two  grinders.  The  horse  has 
two  jaws  and  two  sides  to  each  jaw  ;  therefore  the  same  number 
being  present  within  each  side  of  both  jaws,  the  teeth  already 
alluded  to  appear  during  the  third  year.  However,  even  this 
quantity  rather  understates  than  overrates  the  fact,  for  fre- 
quently the  tushes  are  cut  during  this  period.  In  such  a  case 
the  colt  acquires  no  less  than  sixteen  teeth  in  twelve  months. 

The  four-year-old  has  to  perfect  as  many  teeth  as  are  known 
^   to  protrude  into  the  mouth  of  the  three-year-old.     But  the  pre- 


—  227  — 

cise  timo  of  the  appearance  of  the  tushes  is  uncertain.  They 
may  come  up  at  the  third  or  the  fourth  year  ;  sometimes  they 
never  pierce  the  gums,  it  being  very  far  from  uncommon  to  see 
horses^  mouths  of  seven  years  without  the  tushes. 

By  the  end  of  the  fourth  year  the  colt  has  certainly  gained 
twelve  teeth.  By  this  time  there  should  exist,  on  each  side  of 
both  jaws,  one  new  lateral  incisor  and  two  fresh  molars,  being 
the  third  and  the  sixth  in  position.  The  appearance  of  the 
mouth  now  indicates  the  approach  of  maturity  ;  but  the  inferior 
margin  of  the  lower  bone  still  feels  more  full  and  rounded  than 
is  consistent  with  the  consolidation  of  an  osseous  structure. 

The  process  of  dentition  is  not  finished  by  the  termination  of 
the  fourth  year.  There  are  more  teeth  to  be  cut,  as  well  as  the 
fangs  of  those  already  in  the  mouth  to  be  made  perfect. 

The  colt,  with  four  pairs  of  permanent  incisors,  has  still  the 
corner  milk  nippers  to  shed,  yet  while  the  provision  necessary 
for  that  labor  is  taking  place  within  the  body,  or  while  nature  is 
preparing  for  the  coming  struggle,  man  considers  the  poor 
quadruped  as  fully  developed  and  as  enjoying  the  prime  of  its 
existence. 

The  teeth  may  be  scarcely  visible  in  the  mouth,  nevertheless 
such  a  sign  announces  the  fifth  year  to  be  attained.  There  are, 
at  five,  no  more  bothering  teeth  to  cut.  All  are  through  the 
bone  and  the  mouth  will  soon  be  sound. 

The  indications  of  extreme  age  are  always  present,  and, 
though  during  a  period  of  senility  the  teeth  cannot  be  literally 
construed,  nevertheless  it  should  be  impossible  to  look  upon  the 
^^  venerable  steed  ^'  as  an  animal  in  its  colthood. 


Gleason's  Entire  New  Method  of  Telling  the  Age  of 

a  Horse. 

Copyrighted 

Question.     How  do  you  tell  the  age  of  a  horse  ? 

Answer,  There  are  many  methods  of  telling  the  ages  of 
horses,  but  I  have  a  new  method,  and  one  that  you  can  always 
tell  within  one  or  two  years  of  their  correct  age,  which  is  as 
follows : 


—  228 


UPPIR    JAW 


2l....,i w 


0.  R. 
GLEASON'S 


-13. —  n. }t^ 


».•* 
n-^' 


NEW 
SYSTEM 


or    TELLING     HORSES' AGE. 


LOWER    JAW 


A  horse  has  forty  teeth — twenty-four  grinders,  twelve  front 
teeth  and  four  tusks.  A  mare  has  thirty-six  teeth — twenty-four 
grinders,  twelve  front  teeth,  and  sometimes  they  have  tusks,  but 
not  very  often.  Fourteen  days  old  a  colt  has  four  nipper  teeth, 
at  three  months  old  he  has  four  middle  teeth,  at  six  months  old 
he  has  four  corner  teeth  ;  at  one  year  old  the  cups  leave  the 
nipper  teeth,  at  two  years  old  the  cups  leave  the  middle  teeth, 
at  two  and  a  half  years  old  he  sheds  his  nipper  teeth,  at  three 
years  old  full  size  nipper  teeth ;  three  and  a  half  years  old  he 
sheds  his  middle  teeth,  four  years  old  full-size  middle  teeth  ; 
at  four  and  a  half  years  old  sheds  his  corner  teeth  ;  five  years 
old,  full-size  corner  teeth  ;  six  years  old,  large  cups  in  corner 
teeth,  small  cups  in  middle  teeth,  and  still  smaller  cups  in  nipper 
teeth  ;  seven  years  old,  cups  leave  nipper  teeth  ;  eight  years  old, 
cups  leave  the  middle  teeth  ;  nine  years  old,  cups  leave  the  cor- 
ner teeth  ;  at  ten  years  old  a  dark  groove  will  make  its  appearance 
on  the  upper  corner  tooth  ;  at  fifteen  years  old  the  groove  will  be 
one-half  way  down  the  upper  corner  tooth ;  at  twenty-one  years 
old  the  grooves  will  be  at  the  bottom.  At  this  age  give  your 
horse  his  time  and  let  him  have  rest  in  his  future  days. 


—  229  — 

The  groove  alluded  to  will  be  found  on  the  corner  tooth  of  the 
upper  jaw,  running  down  the  middle  of  the  tooth.  When  a 
horse  is  from  fourteen  days  to  six  years  old,  I  judge  by  the 
appearance  of  both  jaws  ;  when  from  six  to  ten  years,  by  the 
lower  jaw,  and  when  from  ten  to  twenty-one  years,  by  the  groove 
in  the  upper  jaw.  The  above  is  the  only  true  system  ■n.  the 
world,  to  my  knowledge,  for  telling  a  horse^s  age. 


Gleason's  Practical  Illustrations  of  the  Age  of  the 

Horse. 


Tlie  FoaPs  Jaw  at  Blrtb. 


—  230  — 


Showingr  the  Montb  of  a  Colt  Two  Weeks  Old. 


Showlngr  the  Month  of  Colt  Six  Weeks  Old. 


—  231  — 


Sliowiug  Front  Teeth  of  Colt  at  Nine  Moutbs. 


jSide  Tiew  of  Jaw  of  a  Oue-Year-Oia  Colt, 


—  a&2  — 


Side  View  of  Jaw  of  a  Two- Year-Old  Colt. 


Sbowiug:  Colt's  Moutb  at  Two  Tears  of  Age. 


—  233  — 


-^i 


Showing^  Month  at  T^  o  and  a-half  Years  of  Ag^e* 


Sbowing  Ittontti  at  Tbree  Years  Old. 


—  234  — 


•///^//v.:// 


The  Jaw  of  a  Three- Year-Old  Colt. 


The  Jaw  of  a  Fonr-Tear-Old  Colt. 


—  235  — 


Sbowiu?  Month  at  Four  Tears  of  Age. 


(Staowins  Moutb  at  Four  and  a-balf  Years  of  Age. 


^236  — 


Showing  Month  at  Five  Years  of  Age. 


Shoving  Mouth  at  Six  Tears  of  Age. 


—  237  — 


Slio^  ing:  Moutb  at  Seveu  Tears  of  Ag;e« 


Sbowingr  Month  at  Elgrht  Tears  of  Age. 


^S38  — 


Sbowin^  Moutb  Twenty  Tears  of  Age. 


Showing  the  Month  at  Thirty  Tears  of  Age. 

Having  made  a  study  of  the  horse's  mouth  during  my  fifteen 
years  of  experience,  the  above  illustrations  will  be  found  accurate 
in  all  cases.  But  I  will  refer  you  to  my  new  method  of  telling 
the  age  of  a  horse  from  fourteen  days  to  twenty-one  years  old. 
Buy  all  horses  by  its  instructions  and  you  will  never  be  deceived. 


—  239  — 


Remember   Ttii^. 


To  Tell  the  Age  of  Horses. 


To  tell  the  age  of  any  horse,  , 
Inspect  the  lower  jaw,  of  course. 
The  sixth  front  tooth  the  tale  will  tell, 
And  every  doubt  and  fear  dispel. 

Two  middle  "nippers"  you  behold 
Before  the  colt  is  two  weeks  old. 
Before  eight  weeks,  two  more  will  come  ; 
Eight  months,  the  "corners"  cut  the  gum. 

Two  outside  grooves  will  disappear 
From  middle  two  in  just  one  year. 
In  two  years  from  the  second  pair  ; 
In  three  the  corners,  too,  are  bare. 

At  two,  the  middle  "nippers  "  drop  ; 
At  three,  the  second  pair  can't  stop. 
When  four  years  old,  the  third  pair  goes  ; 
At  five  a  full  new  set  he  shows. 

The  deep  black  spots  wdll  pass  from  view, 
At  six  years,  from  the  middle  two. 
The  second  pair  at  seven  years  ; 
At  eight  the  spot  each  '•  corner  "  clears. 

From  middle  "nippers,"  upper  jaw, 
At  nine  the  black  spots  will  withdraw. 
The  second  pair  at  ten  are  white  ; 
Eleven  finds  the  "corners  "  light. 

As  time  goes  on,  the  horsemen  know, 
The  oval  teeth,  three-sided  grow  ; 
They  longer  get,  project  before. 
Till  twenty,  which  we  know  no  more. 


— Gleason, 


—  240  — 


Horses'  Teeth.    Their  Care  and  Treatment. 


There  are  hundreds  and  thousands  of  horses  that  are  suffering 
daily  on  account  of  their  teeth.  The  upper  jaw  of  the  horse  is  one 
inch  wider  than  the  lower  jaw,  causing  the  r.pper  grinders  to  shrtt 
half  an  inch  over  the  lower  grinders.  This  causes  the  upper  set 
of  teeth  to  wear  sharp  on  the  outside  next  to  the  cheek,  and  the 
lower  grinders  to  wear  sharp  on  the  inside  next  to  the  tongue.  After 
these  teeth  become  sharp,  in  using  a  bridle  on  a  horse,  the  j^ulling  of 
the  lines  brings  the  cheek-pieces  of  the  bit  against  the  horse's  mouth, 
pressing  the  inside  of  the  cheek  against  the  sharp  edges  of  the 
grinders,  causing  inflammation  and  many  times  cutting  large  gashes. 
The  horse  will  throw  its  head  up  and  down,  slobber,  drive  uneven, 
pull  on  the  lines,  many  times  will  balk;  his  grain  passes  through 
him  whole,  he  cannot  masticate  it  properly.  During  my  professional 
career,  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  horses  become  balky  for  no  other  rea- 
son than  that  their  teeth  were  sharp  on  the  edges,  causing  the  mouth 


—  241  — 

and  cheeks  to  become  sore  and  lacerated,  which,  in  a  high-strung 
and  nervous  beast,  causes  hini  to  balk.  Now,  to  have  your  horse's 
teeth  fixed,  take  a  float  or  rasp  and  lile  off  the  inside  edges  of  the 
teeth— just  the  sharp  edges.  Never  let  a  man  cut  your  horse's  teeth 
with  shears,  as  it  is  impossible  to  cut  ivory  without  fracturing  it. 
This  operation  of  floating  should  be  done  once  a  year  regularly. 
Always  have  the  operation  performed  by  a  man  of  good  judgment. 
Many  a  time  a  horse  loses  a  grinder,  then  the  opposite  grinder  is 
given  a  chance  to  grow,  and  eventually  comes  into  direct  contact 
with  the  opposite  gum,  making  it  impossible  for  the  horse  to  eat  at 
all.  Examine  your  horse's  mouth  thoroughly;  see  that  the  teeth  are 
even ;  if  not,  take  a  float  and  make  them  so.  Many  of  our  best 
veterinarians  prescribe  condition  powders  and  medicines  for  horses 
that  are  in  thin  flesh,  hide- bound,  etc.,  when  the  proper  operation 
upon  the  teeth  will  cure  your  horse  without  buying  a  lot  of  this 
trash. 


HORSE-SHOEING  DEPARTMENT. 


Qitestion.  What  do  you  think  of  horse-shoes  and  horse-shoeing  in 
general  ? 

Answer.  There  is  no  subject  before  the  horse  owners  to-day  that 
should  interest  them  more  than  the  subject  of  horse-shoeing.  The 
force  of  this  statement  will  make  itself  felt  when  you  consider  that 
there  are  in  the  United  States  at  the  present  time  over  14,000,000 
horses,  and  that  fully  one  half  of  them  are  badly  crippled  and  al- 
most spoiled  by  the  sheer  ignorance  of  the  ordinary  horse-shoer. 
I  claim  that  more  horses  are  made  lame  by  this  butchery  than  any 
other  cause,  for  the  reason  that  the  majority  of  blacksmiths  have 
not  had  the  experience  necessary  to  do  the  work  as  it  should  be 
done.  They  have  not  thoroughly  mastered  their  profession.  In 
order  for  a  horse-shoer  to  understand  the  science  of  his  profes- 
sion  and   the   anatomy   of  the    horse's    foot,    it  is   necessary  for 


—  242  — 

him  to  serve  a  long  apprenticeship,  and  cannot  be  fully  un- 
derstood without  a  practical  teaching  and  experience  of  five 
or  seven  years.  There  are  horse-shoers  who  thoroughly  under- 
stand their  profession,  and  I  recognize  them  as  one  of  the 
greatest  body  of  men  that  we  have  to-day  in  any  profession 
There  are  rates  upon  shoeing  that  is  being  done  at  the  present  timt 
by  irresponsible  parties,  unskilled  workmen,  at  the  low  rate  of 
seventy-five  cents  for  shoeing  a  horse  all  around.  Xow  it  is  im- 
possible for  any  blacksmith  to  shoe  a  horse  and  do  his  work  in  a 
scientific  manner  for  less  than  $2,  and  from  that  to  $3,  per  horse. 
It  will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  me,  and  I  believe  to  the  mil- 
lions of  horse  owners,  if  a  law  should  be  passed  in  every  State 
throughout  America  prohibiting  a  man  from  shoeing  a  horse 
or  driving  a  nail  into  a  horse's  foot  until  he  has  served  so 
many  years  as  an  apprentice.  Then  let  him  go  to  the  capital  of 
the  State  and  there  pass  an  examination  that  he  is  a  qualified, 
capable  and  able  horse-shoer,  thoroughly  understanding  his  profes- 
sion. Let  him  then  receive  his  diploma  to  show  the  world  that  he 
has  gained  his  profession  by  hard  study  and  work,  and  is  ready  to 
perform  his  work  in  a  skillful  manner. 

If  this  should  ever  become  a  law,  we  should  soon  find  out  that  we 
have  only  got  a  very  few  practical  horse-shoers  in  the  United  States. 

I  hope  that  those  who  read  my  ideas  upon  shoeing  will  hereafter 
appreciate  a  good  horse-shoer.  Do  not  patronize  your  cheap  mechan- 
ics, but  patronize  those  who  understand  their  profession.  You  will 
then  encourage  men  of  good  judgment,  good  common  sense,  to  work 
hard  in  order  to  elevate  their  profession. 

Question.     How  should  a  horse  be  shod  \ 

Answer.  Pare  the  foot  perfectly  level ;  never  take  any  more  out 
at  the  heel  than  you  do  at  the  toe  ;  never  allow  your  horse's  frog  to 
be  cut  in  any  way,  shape  or  form.  If  there  are  rags  hanging  to  the 
frog  let  them  remain  there  ;  never  have  the  bars  of  your  horse's  foot 
cut.  Let  the  horse-shoer  cut  enough  of  the  sole  out  of  the  horse's 
foot  so  that  the  shoe  will  not  rest  or  press  upon  the  sole,  leaving  ai? 
equal  bearing  or  pressure  upon  the  sole  of  the  horse's  foot. 

Have  a  shoe  made  that  is  concave  from  the  third  nail  hole  all  the 


—  243  — 

way  round  to  the  other  third  nail  hole,  from  the  last  nail  hole  back 
to  the  heel  of  the  shoe  ;  have  it  bevelled  outwardly,  having  the  shoe 
thinner  on  the  outside  at  the  heel  than  it  is  on  the  inside.  My  phi- 
losophy of  this  is,  to  let  the  horse's  frog  come  down  even  with  the 
shoe,  as  when  he  puts  his  foot  down  on  the  ground,  by  the  shoe  being 
bevelled  at  the  heel,  it  gives  the  quarters  a  chance  to  expand. 

You  probably  are  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  horse's  shoes  that  are 
manufactured  at  the  present  time  are  concaved  all  the  way  around  ; 
the  result  is  that  the  shoe  is  slanting  inwardly,  and  when  the  horse's 
foot  is  placed  upon  his  shoe,  with  four  nails  driven  upon  each  side, 
you  have  nailed  his  foot  to  an  iron  vise,  and  it  is  impossible  for  it  to 
expand,  for  the  reason  that  the  shoe  slanting  inwardly  causes  the 
foot  to  contract.  I  wouia  advise  that  all  driving  or  saddle  horses 
should  only  have  six  nails  in  the  front  feet  and  five  in  the  hind  feet; 
have  them  driven  well  to  the  middle  of  the  horse's  foot  and  come 
out  of  the  horn  as  low  as  possible.  Kever  file  your  horse's  foot  on 
the  outside  above  the  nail  heads.  Kever  file  the  crease  under  the 
clinches,  as  when  you  do  you  are  weakening  the  crust  of  the  horn  of 
your  horse's  foot.  You  stop  the  growth  of  this  live  horn,  causing 
the  foot  to  become  dry  and  brittle,  and  when  the  old  shoes  are  re- 
moved you  will  find  large  chunks  of  the  horse's  foot  breaking  away 
with  the  old  horseshoe  nails. 

Xever  have  a  red-hot  shoe  placed  upon  your  horse's  foot.  It  draws 
the  moisture  and  the  oil  from  the  hoof,  making  it  become  dry  and 
brittle.  Nature  never  destined  that  a  horse's  foot  should  be  burned 
with  a  red-hot  iron — warm  shoes  placed  upon  a  horse's  foot  will  do  no 
harm. 

Always  have  the  shoes  made  to  fit  the  foot,  and  not  fit  the  foot  to 
the  shoe,  as  is  the  practice  with  many  would-be  horse -shoers. 

No  scientific  workman  will  contradict  the  above  facts. 

Question.     How  do  you  shoe  a  horse  for  overreaching  ? 

Answer,  Have  a  very  heavy  shoe  on  the  front  feet,  having  it  very 
wide  at  the  toe  and  narrow  at  the  heel ;  put  as  much  weight  at  the 
toe  as  possible  ;  on  the  hind  feet  use  my  overreaching  shoe  with  a 
wide  web  on  the  outside  of  the  foot,  which  will  stop  any  horse  from 
overreaching. 


244  — 


(See  engravings  of  shoes  for  overreaching).  What  will  stop  one 
horse  from  overreaching  ^viil  not  stop  another;  the  blacksmith  must 
use  his  judgment  in  all  cases. 


These  shoes  so  on 
the  front  feet.  they 
are  usld  also  on 
horses  that  stumble. 


Thcse     shoes  go    on 
the   hind    feet.    wide 

.WEBB    ON     OUTSIDE    or 
THE     FOOT. 


Shoes  to  Preveiit  luterleriiij?  autl  Overrcacliiug. 

Note. — The  shoes  as  they  are  in  the  above  illustration  will  stop  almost 
any  horse  from  interfering  or  forging  ;  if  they  interfere  with  the  front  feet 
use  the  same  kind  of  a  shoe. 


Question.     How  long  should  a  horse  wear  his  shoes  ? 

Answer.  Not  over  four  or  six  weeks ;  then  they  should  be  reset, 
merely  rnsping  the  feet  off  level.  Do  not  cut  away  at  the  heels  more 
than  you  can  possibly  help. 

Question,     How  heavy  should  a  horse's  shoe  be  ? 

Answer.  For  all  driving  and  saddle  horses,  they  should  wear 
fourteen- ounce  shoes  on  the  front  feet,  eight-ounce  shoes  on  the  hind 


—  245  — 

feet.  All  team  horses  and  heavy  draft  horses  must  be  shod  accord- 
ing to  their  weight  and  size.  I  am  an  endorser  of  light  shoes  for 
all  driving  horses,  as  horses  pick  up  and  put  down  during  a  day's 
work  in  the  neighborhood  of  aViOut  fifty-three  tons  of  iron,  and  you 
will  quickly  see  that  the  lighter  your  herse  is  shod  the  better  it  is 
for  him  in  going  a  long  journey. 

All  trotting  horses  must  be  shod  according  to  the  judgment  of 
their  drivers.  They  should  shoe  them  to  balance,  and  gait  them  to 
the  best  advantage  for  speed. 

Question.     What  shall  I  do  for  a  horse  with  corns  ? 

Answer,  Have  the  foot  pared  perfectly  level ;  then  fit  the  shoe 
to  the  foot  the  same  as  for  a  sound  horse's  foot ;  then  at  the  quarter 
where  the  corn  is,  take  and  cut  down  about  one -quarter  of  an  inch, 
taking  right  out  a  chunk  of  the  wall,  making  a  shoulder,  so  that 
when  the  shoe  is  placed  upon  the  foot  the  quarter  that  the  corn  is 
on  will  have  no  bearing  whatever  upon  the  shoe.  Put  in  some  good 
strong  liniment  or  caustic  and  a  little  cotton  over  the  corn  under 
the  shoe.  My  idea  of  a  corn  is  to  remove  the  cause,  and  the  corn 
will  gradully  waste  away.  My  idea  of  shoeing  in  this  way  is,  if  you 
have  a  corn  on  your  own  foot  and  you  relieve  the  pressure  of  your 
boot  from  that  corn  it  certainly  does  not  bother  you.  The  same  way 
with  the  horse.  Horse-shoers,  in  shoeing  a  horse  for  this  complaint, 
should  use  the  same  judgment  that  he  would  for  himself. 

Question.     How  shall  I  shoe  my  horse  for  a  quarter  crack  ? 

Answer-.     On  exactly  the  same  principle  as  for  corns 

(See  engravings  of  horses  shod  for  quarter  crack). 

You  must  take  off"  all  the  pressure  that  you  possibly  can  ofi*  the 
diseased  quarter,  throwing  it  upon  the  sound  part  of  the  foot.  I 
only  lay  down  a  few  of  the  principal  rules  for  you  to  go  by.  All 
horses  being  shod  must  vary  according  to  the  style  and  shape  of 
their  feet,  and  in  all  cases  the  blacksmith  must  use  his  own  judg- 
ment. 


—  246  — 


To  Shoe  a  Morse  for  <iuarter  Crack  or  Bad  Corn. 


Questiofi,    How  can  I  cure  a  sand  or  toe  crack  ? 

Afiswer.     Shoe  the  horse  the  same  as  for  corn  or  quarter  crack. 

(See  engravings  for  the  above). 

Question.     What  shall  I  do  for  a  horse  that  stumbles  when  driven  : 

A?iswer,  Pare  his  toes;  have  them  much  lower  than  the  heel, 
and  use  as  heavy  a  shoe  as  possible,  with  all  the  weight  of  the  shoe 
at  the  toe.  This  will  give  him  the  proper  knee  action,  and  prevent 
him  from  stumbling,   unless  he  is   weak  in  the  tendons;  if  so, 


—  247  — 

use  any  of  my  liniments  laid  down  in  this  book,  rubbing  them  in 
the  cords  and  tendons  of  the  horse's  limbs.  Give  him  a  little  rest 
until  you  get  him  properly  strengthened.  Many  horses  stumble 
from  nothing  but  weakness,  and  rest  will  cure  them. 


Proper  Way  of  Sboeing  for  Toe  or  Sand  Crack. 

The  following  engraving  shows  a  horse  shod  with  a  high-heeled 
shoe,  which  will  cause  him  to  stumble ;  also  will  cause  his  tendons  to 
become  contracted  and  cause  general  disease  of  the  limb.  If  you  have 
caulks  put  on  the  shoe,  have  the  toe  caulk  the  same  height  of  the  heel 
caulk,  giving  the  shoe  an  even  bearing. 


—  248  — 


Question.  How  should  a  driying  or  saddle  horse  be  shod  in  the 
summer  time? 

Answer.  With  a  plain  flat  shoe,  as  light  as  possible.  I  am  a 
great  believer  in  having  all  driving  horses  shod  in  the  front  feet, 
with  half  shoes,  known  to  horsemen  as  "tips."     (See  engraving.) 

All  farm  horses  should  be  shod  with  the  half  shoe. 


The  following  engraving  shows  the  half  shoe  known  as  the  "toe- 
tip."  All  driving  or  saddle  horses  should  be  shod  with  this  kind  oj 
shoe  during  the  summer  months,  giving  a  full  frog  pressure,  and  ir 


—  249  — 

many  cases  it  will  cure  the  worst  case  of  contracted  feet.     I  would 
recommend  this  shoe  to  be  used  on  all  government  horses. 


Question,     Should  a  horse  be  put  in  a  soaking  tub  ? 

Answer,  I  do  not  believe  in  soaking  horses'  feet ;  it  is  overdone. 
There  are  cases  where  it  will  benefit  a  horse,  but  when  carried  to 
extremes  it  is  injurious  to  the  animal's  feet,  as  the  more  you  soak 
the  drier  the  hoof  will  become.  Look  at  the  trotting  horses  to-day; 
they  are  being  soaked  out  every  morning,  and  when  they  are  seven 
or  eight  years  old  their  feet  are  completely  ruined.  One  of  the 
greatest  and  best  treatments  to  soften  a  horse's  foot,  and  to  cause  it 
to  grow,  is  to  walk  the  horse  early  in  the  morning  through  grass 
when  the  dew  is  on  it.  This  will  cause  your  horse's  foot  to  soften, 
and  start  it  to  grow  very  rapidly. 


—  250  — 

Question.     Do  you  believe  in  putting  ointments  on  a  horse  ? 

Answer.  I  do  not  recommend  the  use  of  all  kinds  of  hoof  oint- 
ments that  are  now  going  the  rounds,  but  there  are  ointments  that, 
if  placed  upcn  the  cornet  of  the  horse's  foot  and  on  the  heel,  will 
be  of  great  benefit  in  order  to  expand  and  give  the  horse's  foot  a 
chance  to  grow  or  increase  its  growth.  I  would  advise  you  to  never 
use  oil  upon  your  horse's  foot. 


Showing  the  Eflects  of  the  Soaking-  Tnl». 


Question.     Do  you  approve  of  the  bar  shoe  ? 

Ans-wer.  I  do  not  believe  in  the  use  of  any  bar  shoe,  only  in  cases 
where  the  horse  has  a  drop  sole,  or  a  very  flat  foot,  then  I  approve 
of  the  whole  bottom  of  his  foot  being  covered  with  iron ;  or,  in  other 


—  251  — 

words,  a  whole  plate  covering  his  foot  and  protecting  it  from  the 
earth.     (See  engravings  of  my  ideas.) 

Question.     How  can  I  cure  a  horse's  contracted  foot  ? 

Answer.  Pare  his  foot  perfectly  level,  cutting  the  horn  down 
until  the  frog  will  come  even  with  shoe,  if  possible.  Put  on  a  poul- 
ts oe  made  of — 

Linseed  meal i  quart. 

Charcoal i^  pints. 

Soft  Soap I  quart. 

Mix  this  all  together,  and  put  on  the  bottom  of  your  horse's  foot 
every  twelve  hours  for  five  applications. 

Use  skunk  oil  on  the  hoof- band  of  the  horse's  foot  every  morning 
for  three  weeks;  then  put  on  a  shoe  made  bevelled  at  the  heel,  having 
the  shoe  not  thicker  at  the  heel  than  it  is  at  the  toe.  Open  the  heel 
a  little  with  the  knife,  and  turn  your  horse  out  to  pasture.  Let  him 
run  thirty  days,  then  bring  him  up  and  have  him  reshod,  and  turn 
him  out  again  for  thirty  days.  He  is  ready  then  to  drive,  and  with 
proper  care  in  shoeing  him,  you  will  have  no  trouble  with  your 
horse.  Remember,  in  order  to  have  a  thorough  cure,  you  must  fol- 
low the  above  directions. 

The  next  illustration  shows  the  effects  of  soaking  a  horse's  foot  daily 
through  a  campaign  on  the  turf.  The  little  spot  shown  in  the  upper 
left  hand  corner  is  a  corn,  which  in  the  majority  of  cases  is  caused 
by  the  shoe  resting  upon  the  bar  of  the  horse's  foot.  This  becoming 
bruised  causes  a  callous,  the  same  as  upon  a  person's  toe,  which  forms 
a  corn.  Can  be  cured  by  following  treatment  laid  down  elsewhere 
in  this  book.  In  all  cases  to  relieve  a  horse  from  pain  from  this 
cause,  you  must  relieve  the  pressure  of  the  shoe  against  the  corn. 

Question.     What  kind  of  a  horse-shoe  do  you  approve  of? 

Answer.  I  approve  of  only  the  old  common-sense  shoe,  made  as 
plain  as  possible.  The  only  thing  we  have  to  do  in  shoeing  a  horse, 
is  to  prevent  the  wall  of  the  horse's  foot  from  cracking  away.  If  we 
did  not  have  any  pavements  for  our  horses  to  travel  over  I  believe  that 
it  would  be  unnecessary  to  shoe  any  horse  whatever.   There  are  a  great 


—  262  — 


Showing  the  Effects  of  Soakin;^  a  Horse's  Foot  Daily  throngh  a  Cam* 

l>aign  on  the  Turf. 

many  shoes  to  day  before  the  American  horse  owner;  some  are  pat- 
ented and  some  are  not.  They  are  introduced  by  specialists  and 
men  that  are  seeking  to  produce  something  new  to  make  money  out 
of.  But  let  me  say  I  do  not  believe  that  there  ever  will  be  a  shoe 
manufactured  that  will  do  away  with  the  plain,  good  common-sense 
shoe,  forged  and  made  by  hand  by  a  practical  horse-shoer.  I  con- 
demn all  machinery-made  shoes,  and  only  recommend  shoes  forged 
and  made  by  hand.  (See  engraving  on  opposite  page  for  my  idea  of 
horse-shoes.) 


Question.     How  many  blacksmiths  or  horse-shoers  are  there  in 
America  ? 

Aftswer,     172,726  horse-shoers. 


—  253  — 

Question,     How  many  horses  in  America  ? 

Answer.     A  little  over  14,000,000  and  2,162,808  mules. 

Question,     AVhat  shall  I  do  to  stop  my  horse  from  interfering  ? 

Answer.  Pare  his  feet  perfectly  level,  then  have  a  shoe  made  that 
is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  wide  ;  the  web  on  the  outside  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  on  the  inside  ;  put  the  wide  web  part  on  the  out- 
side of  his  foot,  the  narrow  web  on  the  inside.     After  you  drive  him, 


if  he  should  interfere,  pare  the  foot  a  little  lower  on  the  inside  than 
it  is  on  the  outside.  This  will  stop  the  majority  of  horses  from  in- 
terfering. 

Question.     Will  it  work  the  same  on  the  front  feet  that  it  does  on 
the  hind  feet  ? 

Answer.     Yes. 


—  254  — 

Question.     AVhat  do  you  think  of  shoulder  jam  and  sweeny  ? 

Afiswer.  There  is  no  such  disease  known  to  the  veterinary 
science.  There  is  a  wasting  away  of  the  muscles  of  the  horse's 
shoulder,  caused  in  many  cases  by  the  contraction  of  the  horse's  feet 
or  the  strain  upon  the  tendons  or  contractions  of  the  same.  In  wder 
to  get  a  sure  cure,  treat  the  foot  and  the  limb,  and  the  shoulder  will 
take  care  of  itself.     (See  my  Veterinary  Department.) 

Question.  Will  you  give  me  some  general  points  on  the  horse's 
foot? 

Answer.  Never  shoe  a  colt  until  he  is  three  years  old,  or  put  him 
to  work  until  he  is  five  years  old. 

Never  allow  a  blacksmith  to  sand  paper  a  horse's  foot 

Never  have  the  bars  cut  or  the  frog  cut.  The  frog,  when  in  health, 
will  shed  four  times  a  year  and  grows  the  same  as  your  finger  nail. 

Always  have  the  horse  shod  at  least  once  in  four  or  six  weeks. 
Pay  your  blacksmith  well  for  his  work. 

Tor  all  light  driving  and  saddle  horses  use  No.  6  nails  in  front 
feet,  and  No.  5  nails  in  the  hind  feet.  For  heavy  draft  horses  you 
can  use  larger  nails. 

Never  have  over  fourteen-ounce  shoes  on  a  light  driving  horse. 

Some  owners  and  drivers  have  a  habit,  which  I  do  not  approve  of, 
when  they  come  in  from  a  drive,  particularly  in  the  spring  of  the 
year,  and  their  horses  are  covered  with  mud,  to  order  the  groom 
to  direct  the  hose  on  the  horse's  legs  to  wash  ofi'the  dirt.  Let  me 
say  that  the  cold  water  has  a  bad  effect  and  brings  on  sundry  com- 
plaints. Let  the  mud  stay  on  until  it  dries,  then  remove  it  with  a 
brush  ;  it  will  come  ofi"  very  easily  and  look  fully  as  well  as  if  washed, 
and  will  prevent  your  horse  from  having  grease  heel  and  many  other 
diseases  of  the  kind  which  are  caused  from  the  above  treatment, 
which  is  generally  practiced  by  every  horse  owner. 


^265  — 


The  Horse's  Perfect  Foot. 


A  shows  a  healthy  frog,  that  has  never  been  cut  by  the  black- 
smith's knife,  or  otherwise  diseased.  Never  allow  your  blacksmith 
to  cut  the  frog  or  any  part  of  it.  If  it  is  ragged,  let  the  rags  hang; 
nature  will  take  its  course,  and  they  will  shed  off  in  due  time. 

E  E  shows  the  bars  of  the  horse's  foot.  Never  allow  these  to  be 
cut.  Xever  allow  the  heels  of  the  shoe  to  rest  on  them;  they  are 
placed  in  a  horse's  foot  the  same  as  a  beam  is  placed  in  a  building, 
to  keep  it  from  contracting  the  frog,  placed  between  to  act  as  a 
wedge  in  supporting  them. 

D  represents  the  sole  of  a  horse's  foot.  Have  enough  of  this  cut 
away  so  that  the  shoe  will  not  press  upon  the  sole.  Have  your  horse 
reshod  regularly  every  four  weeks. 


—  266  — 


A  Horse's  Foot  Perfectly  Shod. 

The  frog,  in  cases  where  it  can  be,  should  come  down  level  with 
the  shoe.  The  above  illustration  shows  the  way  all  horses  should 
be  shod,  except  when  caulks  are  requ.i:'ed.  Caulks  should  always  be 
low,  and  all  shoes  be  perfectly  level,  no  thicker  at  the  toe  than  at 
the  heel. 


Question,     What  are  a  few  good  general  points  on  horsemanship  ? 

Answer*  Match  horses  with  reference  to  size  and  motion,  parti- 
cularly to  color,  if  you  can. 

Always  have  inside  lines  on  double  team  quite  long  and  back 
straps  short. 

Xever  check  a  horse  if  you  wish  him  to  last  long. 

Never  feed  from  mangers.  Let  your  horse  eat  his  food  from  the 
floor  even  with  his  feet.     A  great  many  horses  suffer  from  indigea* 


—  257  — 

tion  and  are  made  stiff  and  lame  from  eating  from  hay-racks  and 
manners,  which  is  unnatural  to  the  animals. 

Water  and  oats  should  be  given  first,  hay  afterwards.  If  you  are 
working  your  horses  hard,  give  them  very  little  water  at  night. 

Always  stop  at  the  top  of  the  hill  and  let  your  horse  get  his 
breath.     If  you  have  ever  run  up  hill  yourself  think  of  your  horse. 

Always  have  the  shoes  fit  the  foot  and  not  fit  the  foot  to  the  shoe. 

Never  cut  the  bars  of  a  horse's  foot. 

For  a  coughing  horse,  wet  his  hay  and.  not  his  oats. 

Never  let  your  horse  stand  facing  a  cold  wind. 

Always  feed  light  when  changing  feed. 

When  training  a  horse  in  a  barn,  have  carriages  and  all  objects 
removed,  only  those  that  you  are  using. 

Use  very  few  words  with  a  horse,  but  have  them  thoroughly 
understood. 

Be  earnest  and  prompt,  but  not  harsh. 

Always  approach  a  strange  horse  near  the  shoulder. 

Never  pat  or  caress  a  horse  on  the  head ;  always  pat  him  on  the 
shoulder.  Think  of  some  person  coming  up  to  you  and  patting  you 
on  the  head.     What  would  you  do? 

Teach  your  horse  before  whipping,  and,  when  you  whip,  do  it  to 
frighten,  not  to  enrage  him. 

Never  jump  from  a  wagon  when  your  horse  is  running  away. 

Always  exercise  sound  judgment  by  purchasing  a  horse  suited  to 
the  business  you  require  of  him.  Some  horses  are  good  saddle 
horses,  but  might  not  make  good  cart  horses. 

If  your  horse  cribs — sell  him. 

Who  buys  a  horse  needs  a  hundred  eyes. 

Always  try  before  you  buy. 

Use  your  own  judgment,  and  never  take  others'  opinions. 

Your  first  thought  is  always  the  best. 

Never  spare  time  or  labor  to  relieve  a  sufiering  animal.  Remem- 
ber he  is  a  dumb  brute  and  cannot  talk  to  you. 

In  treating  a  disease  that  a  horse  may  have,  never  spare  a  hair  to 
do  your  work  faithfully  for  the  noble  animal. 

Never  have  a  blacksmith  to  put  a  red-hot  shoe  on  your  horse's  foot. 

A-lways  patronize  the  best  horse-shoers  of  your  city.  It  is  one  of 
the  greatest  professions  kno\vn  to-day. 


—  258  — 

Do  not  overload  your  animal. 

Have  your  horse's  shoes  reset  every  four  weeks. 

Xever  soak  your  horse's  feet. 

Never  clip  a  team  horse.  Driving  horses  can  be  clipped  if  their 
owners  will  see  that  they  are  properly  cared  for,  but  I  do  not  ap- 
prove of  clipping  any  more  than  I  would  take  off  my  overcoat  in 
winter. 

Never  have  your  horse's  tail  cut  off.  He  needs  it  to  switch  flies 
with  in  the  summer.  Any  man  that  will  order  this  to  be  done  should 
serve  five  years  in  the  State  Penitentiary. 

The  best  feed  for  horses — good  oats,  good  hay,  good  pure  water. 
Never  give  over  twelve  quarts  a  day. 

Always  see  that  your  wagons  are  greased  twice  a  week. 

See  that  all  collars  are  properly  cleaned  after  using,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent gall  and  sore  necks. 

"When  using  your  saddle  in  a  storm,  see  that  the  blankets  are  prop- 
erly dried  before  using  again. 

Always  have  the  collar  fit  your  horse's  neck  properly. 

See  that  all  saddles  fit  your  horses  properly. 

In  the  winter  time  be  very  careful  and  not  put  a  cold  iron  bit  in 
your  horse's  mouth.  Think  of  yourself,  and  you  will  have  sympathy 
for  the  dnmb  brute. 

Drive  slow  in  turning  corners. 

Don't  hit  your  horse  with  a  whip  unless  he  knows  what  you  hit 
him  for. 

Use  as  little  medicine  as  possible,  but  prevent  sickness  in  your 
horses  by  giving  them  the  proper  care  and  attention. 

Give  your  horse  wiio  works  hard  through  the  day  a  good  bed  tj 
sleep  on. 

The  curry-comb  and  brush,  well  used  twice  a  day,  is  as  good  as 
three  quarts  of  grain. 

Feed  your  horses  regular.  Water  them  often  when  doing  hard 
work  in  very  warm  weather. 

Give  bran  mashes  twice  a  week. 

Use  only  the  best  of  hay.     It  is  the  cheapest  in  the  end. 

Have  horses  shod  as  light  as  possible.  Never  use  over  six  nails  in 
the  front  feet  and  five  nails  in  the  hind  feet  for  all  light  driving  or 
saddle  horses. 


—  259  — 

"When  breaking  a  horse,  use  as  light  a  break-wagon  as  possible. 

Make  your  lessons  short. 

Never  lose  your  temper.     Always  have  plenty  of  patience. 

Never  drive  fast  down  hill. 

Let  your  horse  walk  up  hill. 

Let  him  go  on  the  level. 

When  you  are  coming  from  a  drive  and  your  horse  is  very  warm, 
let  him  stand  five  minutes  and  steam  before  you  put  a  blanket  on 
him. 

Before  leaving  him  for  the  night,  change  blankets — a  dry  one  for 
the  wet  one.  Nine-tenths  of  the  diseases  of  horses  are  caused  from 
their  not  having  the  proper  care. 

If  you  have  a  heavy  horse,  sell  him. 

Never  put  a  horse  to  hard  work  until  he  is  five  years  old. 

Packing  and  Soaking  Horses'  Feet. 

It  is  the  practice  among  many  horse  owners,  and  especially  trot- 
ting horse  trainers,  throughout  the  country,  to  pack  and  soak  their 
horses'  feet.  This  I  do  not  approve  of,  and  believe  it  is  wrong,  and 
that  it  has  ruined  thousands  of  our  most  valuable  animals.  AYhy  ? 
Because  it  is  carried  to  extremes.  When  you  soak  a  board  and  dry 
it,  the  second  time  it  is  soaked  it  is  much  drier  than  it  was  at  first, 
and  every  time  you  soak  it  the  drier  and  more  brittle  it  will  be  each 
time.  Why  does  not  the  horse's  hind  feet  become  contracted  ?  Be- 
cause, whether  it  be  a  horse  or  a  mare,  it  spatters  more  or  less  of  its 
urine  upon  its  feet,  the  ammonia  drives  all  diseases  from  the  hoof, 
and  the  water  keeps  them  soft.  In  the  summer  time,  as  I  have  al- 
ready mentioned,  I  recommend  that  the  horse  be  led  early  in  the 
morning  through  the  dew.  Let  the  reader  stop  for  a  moment  and 
think  of  some  time  when  he  was  out  walking  in  the  early  morning, 
with  good,  thick  boots  on,  and  he  will  remember  that  in  a  very  few 
minutes  he  began  to  feel  the  moisture  of  the  dew  penetrating  through 
to  his  feet.  Dew  passes  through  the  boot  when  water  would  not. 
This  works  the  same  upon  horses,  nature  having  provided  this  sim- 
ple preventive  and  cure  for  diseases  of  the  hoof.  It  cleans  the  feet 
and  causes  them  to  soften  and  expand.     If  your  horse  has  hurt  his 


—  260  — 

feet  or  injured  his  limb  by  running  a  nail  in  his  foot,  or  anything  of 
that  sort,  I  approve  of  giving  him  a  good  soaking,  and  poulticing 
the  injured  member ;  but  never  pack  your  horse's  feet  with  oil  meal, 
or  soak  them  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  horse's  feet  soft.  Use 
my  hoof  ointment  as  laid  down  in  the  Veterinary  Department,  and 
follow  its  directions.  In  order  to  show  horsemen  that  the  above 
theory  is  correct,  how  many  horses  do  you  see  that  have  been  cam- 
paigned for  two  or  more  seasons  whose  feet  are  not  contracted, 
become  hard  and  brittle,  so  that  they  are  almost  useless  for  the  track 
or  even  for  ordinary  driving  purposes?  I  claim  that  every  stable 
should  have  half  a  barrel  placed  in  some  corner  with  a  notice  above 
it  "urinate  here,"  and  two  or  three  times  a  week  each  horse  should 
be  swabbed  off  with  the  urine.  To  do  this  take  a  broom-handle  and 
make  a  swab  on  the  end  of  it  with  rags.  Dip  this  into  the  urine 
and  let  it  run  down  the  legs  and  feet,  commencing  with  the  knee. 
Do  this  until  the  leg  and  hoof  is  thoroughly  soaked. 


Applylna  Moisture  to  the  Cornet  of  the  Horse's  Foot. 


—  261  — 


A  Few  Points. 


Never  pack  your  horse's  feet. 

Never  allow  a  blacksmith  to  sand-paper  your  horse's  hoof. 

Never  allow  oils  of  any  kind  to  be  placed  on  the  outside  of  a  horse's 
hoof,  as  it  closes  the  pores.  In  order  to  keep  a  horse's  foot  in  good 
order,  and  free  from  disease,  take  a  pail  full  of  salt  water  and  wash 
his  legs,  from  his  knees  down,  three  times  a  week. 

Where  your  horse's  foot  is  contracted,  or  the  frog  has  become  hard 
and  dry,  use  poultice. 


Toe  weight  sTvoe 


J^an--pajddJxng  shx>e. . 


'Hte  foot  readi/  farthe  shoe,showing 
froff  nnd  bors  as  thjep  shox/ld,  be  Is/i. 


front  i'i(iii>Qf,s/ypop-foe  ron/hg -motion  shn^ 


JEncL  fbotsTioe  to  baJonce  the  orfiori^ 


Side  weight  shoe  tbrTurvd  foot . 


Foot  prepared.  Cor  CJvarlier  Up. 


Foot  shady  with.  CharUer  tip. 


I 


I 


I 


|\  1 


Plantar  surface  'of foot ' 
with  Cfiarlier  tip. 


Big^fiitxng. 


Wrong  fvUing 


a..^ \?dl properly  driven,, 
h, ,  I  hil  improperly  drit'e/h . 


Cif/vtrcuUecC  foot. 


Sound,  but-  flat  foot. 


JBctjdUi/  conxracfed,  fbot^ 


S0U:>:3_^-^:D  COIiTRACTED  F£ET. 


Jron,  -for  burning  Tioles. 


ActaaZ  thtckness 
of  walls  ofTioof. 


m:.^ 


■=r3r--vsr:: -i- 


QvuxrtEr-crach^with,  cross  ait. 


The,  clarrq}  artcZ  nazL  remedies  ojJvUecU. 


Tot  crajcJz.  WaH  rernjoved,  to  s?iow 
absorption^  of  cofTin  7?one 


'Treated  bu  acunping  tvit/hnaUs. 


QncuJtedU  walls. 


One  effect  of  Quxirter-CrojcJ^, 


QUARTER-CRACK  AXD  REI^IEDIES. 


0 

M 
O 


^^ 


Jiinfi  Bone , 

after  Daofl. 


-STjfJnts, 


CrtnTinrt, 


Sesamoi/rL'i , 


Sniall 
(jc-truiorv. 


^cmesofO^ie  foot, 
after  Cha\-eatt. 


Fore  arm. 


Knee., 


Ihot. 


i-truvtoTru.'  of  the.  foot, 

after  Haubner, 


Fte.vor 
tendarv. 


TV 


f:  /    4~  ''i'  - 


.SV//^  ^o«ls  -^''avicalar  Disease , 

after  Stoneheuge.  after  Stonehenge. 


fHNGBCtNJE.ANI>  NAVICULAR  DISEASE. 


—  269  — 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE. 

Causes  of  Disease. 

Scientific  men  give  three  names  when  they  speak  of  the  causes 
of  disease — exciting,  predisposing,  and  proximate.  The  first  may 
justly  be  termed  the  originators  of  disease;  by  the  second  is 
meant  those  more  easily  acted  upon  by  causes  that  a  more  healthy 
animal  would  resist  altogether ;  and  the  third  is  almost  the  disease 
itself.  Of  the  causes  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  not  many 
of  them  are  alike,  and  their  effects,  that  is,  the  disease,  jusU.as 
diverse. 

These  causes  are  named  in  the  following  table: 

1.  Electric,  and  other  conditions  of  the  atmosphere. 

2.  Food  and  water. 

3.  Overwork. 

4.  Poisons — animal,  vegetable,  mineral  and  zumins,or  ferments. 

5.  ^Malformations,  or  badl}'- formed  parts. 

6.  Age  and  deca3^ 

7.  Changes  of  temperature. 

8.  Hereditary  influence. 

9.  Mechanical. 
10.  Starvation. 

That  tlie  writer  may  be  more  clearly  understood  in  regard  to 
these  causes,  examples  will  be  given  in  the  order  above  stated. 

The  first  is  looked  upon  as  the  cause  of  the  many  diseases  which 
take  on  an  epizootic  form.  The  second,  rusty  straw,  and  musty 
hay  and  corn  fed  to  animals  with  w^eak  stomachs.  Third,  riding 
too  far  and  too  fast,  overloading,  etc.  Fourth,  animals  drinking 
out  of  leaden  troughs,  where  pieces  of  old  iron  may  be  lying  in  the 
bottom,  and  inoculation  by  the  virus  from  a  glandered  horse,  are 
illustrations  of  animal  poisons,  zumins,  or  ferments.  (See  Gland- 
ers.) Fifth,  a  horse  with  point  of  hock  inclined  forward,  which  is 
the  originator  of  curb.  Sixth,  an  old  horse  or  cow,  with  no  teeth 
to  chew  its  feed.  Seventh,  taking  an  animal  from  a  warm  and 
comfortable  stable  and  exposing  it  to  a  cold,  north-eastern  storm. 


—  270  — 

Eighth,  a  flat  foreliead,  transmitted  from  parentage,  thus  prevent- 
ing a  full  development  of  the  brain  where  the  optic  nerve  is  given 
off  from  the  brain,  thus  insuring  blindness  about  the  seventh  or 
eighth  3'ear,  and  sometimes  earlier.  None  need  be  told  of  the  dis- 
position of  the  coarse-bred  Canadian  horse  to  become  affected  with 
disease  of  the  bones,  mostly  in  the  form  of  ring-bones  (which  see). 
Ninth,  stone  in  the  bladder,  and  calculi  in  the  bowels.  Tenth, 
besieged  garrisons,  fortresses,  when  crops  have  failed,  and  famine. 

How  to  Observe  Diseases. 

We  are  sometimes  asked  how  it  is  that  we  know  so  exactly  what 
the  disease  is  tliat  this  or  that  animal  is  affected  with,  as  it  cannot 
speak  and  narrate  its  ills  and  its  aches.  To  this  question  we 
might  repeat  a  common  truism, '"A  shut  mouth  tells  no  lies ; " 
therefore,  nobod\^  is  deceived.  Nature  has  but  one  set  of  weights 
and  measures,  and  these  only  should  be  used.  Thus,  if  a  horse 
have  a  corn  or  bruised  heel,  he  will  be  as  sure  to  go  hime  as  he 
would  with  an  ordinary  sprain.  The  difference  is,  that  he  not 
only  stretches  out  the  sore  foot,  but  he  elevates  the  heel  from  the 
ground,  and  will  not  set  his  foot  flat  to  jilease,  or  it  may  be  said  to 
deceive  any  one.  The  uneasy  eye,  tlie  anxious  expression,  and  the 
sharp  peculiar  look,  tell  the  tale  of  suffering,  and  bear  testimony 
to  a  description  so  faithful  and  true,  that  every  man  should  un- 
derstand how  to  interpret  them. 

The  Principles  of  Disease. 

Congestion. — By  this  term  is  meant  an  undue  flow  of  blood  into 
a  part,  and  remaining  in  it.  The  blood-vessels  lose  the  power  of 
contracting  and  emptying  themselves,  as  when  in  health.  Con- 
gestion is  not  accompanied  with  inflammation,  as  some  suppose, 
and  ma}^  exist  without  irritation.  Irritation  is  only  present  when 
the  blood  passes  more  rapidly  into  a  part  than  its  vessels  can 
carry  it  out,  and  inflammation  only  is  present  when  more  fluid  is 
thrown  into  the  vessels  than  they  can  get  rid  of 

Irritation. — This  peculiar  condition  is  the  result  of  increased 
sensitiveness,  or  an  exalted  action,  accompanied  with  quickened 
beating  of  the  heart  and  pulse.  When  we  apply  the  term  to  special 
cases,  it  will  be  better  understood  as  irritation  of  the  bowels  pro- 


—  271  — 

ducing  diarrhoea,  of  the  bladder  frequently  passing  off  urine,  of 
the  eye  causing  an  increased  flow  of  tears,  and  of  tlie  throat  giving 
rise  to  cough. 

Inflammation  differs  from  irritation,  inasmuch  as  it  is  more  pain- 
ful. There  are  three  varieties — acute,  sub-acute,  and  chronic.  In- 
flammation has  also  three  terminations: 

(1.)  Resolution;  that  is,  it  gives  way,  or  is  relieved  before  any 
alteration  has  taken  place  in  the  part  so  inflamed. 

(2.)  Suppuration,  or  the  formation  of  pus. 

(3.)  Mortification,  or  death  of  the  part  affected,  and  the  subse- 
quent death  of  the  animal.  Inflammation  is  characterized  by 
four  conditions,  or  phenomena,  as  they  are  called — pain,  heat, 
redness,  and  swelling.  Inflammation  assumes  different  degrees 
of  intensity,  modified  by  the  cause,  and  the  part  or  organ  affected. 
When  it  is  situated  in  tlie  windpii)e  (bronchitis,  which  see),  lungs, 
or  bowels,  great  uneasiness  and  disturbance  are  manifest.  In  a 
few  hours  this  condition  gives  way  to  depression. 

Depression. — IMany  diseases  of  an  inflammatory  type,  when  their 
course  is  run,  leave  the  system  in  a  state  of  depression,  or  a  low 
condition  of  vitality.  How  necessar}^  then,  that  this  should  be 
properly  understood  when  treating  inflammatory  diseases,  as  one 
pint  of  blood  taken  from  a  large  horse  would,  under  these  circum- 
stances, cost  him  his  life  !  Rather  anticipate  the  weakness  by  sup- 
porting and  husbanding  the  strength  as  much  as  possible,  so  as  to 
overcome  disease. 

There  are  (wo  great  divisions  of  diseased  action,  which  it  will  be 
well  for  farmers,  and  others  interested  in  the  welfare  of  their  ani- 
mals, to  know,  and  these  are  :  First.  The  exalted,  or  as  it  is  called 
sthenic,  or  commonly  known  by  the  term  inflammation,  and  re- 
quires for  treatment,  not  bleeding,  but  medicine  having  the  power 
of  overcoming  the  exalted  condition,  by  controlling  the  fast  beat- 
ing of  the  heart  and  pulse.  This  is  easily  done  by  the  powers  of 
such  agents  as  aconite  or  veratrum  (which  see),  and  without  in  any 
way  impairing  the  strength  and  constitution  of  the  animal.  The 
second,  or  depressed  condition  of  disease,  and  known  as  the  as- 
thenic, requiring  a  treatment  opposite  to  the  above  variety,  namel}', 
iron,  gentian,  etc.  (which  see),  to  add  to  the  strength  of  the  ani- 
mal, and  quality  of  the  l)lood.     An  improved  diet,  and  in  greater 


—  272  — 

qualit}^,  will,  in  many  cases  of  depression,  not  only  cure  the  dis- 
ease, but  remove  the  cause  also. 

Fever. 

There  are  four  stages  observed  in  fever  :— 

(1.)  Weakness,  loss  of  appetite,  and  low  spirits. 

(2.)  A  shiver,  or  chill,  uneasiness,  flanks  move  quick,  and  short, 
nostrils  more  or  less  distended,  one  leg  or  ear  hot,  and  the  other 
cold. 

(3.)  After  a  time  the  coldness  is  succeeded  by  great  heat  and 
thirst,  costiveness,  urine  scanty  and  high-colored,  mouth  hot  and 
dry. 

(4.)  When  the  fever  has  lasted  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time, 
the  skin  becomes  more  moist,  the  bowels  and  kidne3's  act  more 
freely;  the  pulse  becomes  more  full,  although  not  less  frequent, 
and  the  mouth  more  moist. 

When  fever  is  accompanied  with  disease  of  the  lungs,  liver,  or 
other  organ  of  the  body,  or  after  an  accident  of  any  severity,  it  is 
then  called  sympto^natic  fever. 

Fever  is  called  idiopathic,  when  not  accompanied  by  disease  or 
accident.  From  the  days  of  Galen  to  the  present  time,  of  the 
many  tlieories  advanced  to  explain  its  proximate  cause,  none  seem 
to  satisfy  the  philosophical  student,  and  all  belong  to  the  unsolved 
problems  in  physiology. 

Diseased  Secretion. — A  good  example  of  what  is  here  meant  ma}^ 
be  found  in  the  discharges  from  the  nose  of  animals  affected  with 
cold,  influenza,  and  glanders.  The  salivary  gland  may  secrete  too 
much  fluid,  as  horses  eating  second  crop  clover.  We  call  this 
salivation. 

Increased  Secretion. — In  health,  serum  is  only  supplied  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  to  keep  the  surfaces  moist,  the  absorbent  vessels 
])reventing  accumulations.  In  the  cavities  of  joints  this  secretion 
is  often  too  large,  causing  enlargements,  of  which  a  very  good  ex- 
ample may  be  seen  in  swellings  of  the  hock-joint,  called  bog 
spavin,  and  also  in  thorough-pin. 

The  Pulse. 

The  pulse  of  the  horse  and  the  ox  is  felt  on  the  inner  angle  of 


tlie  lower  jaw,  as  being  the  most  convenient  place.  The  state  of 
the  pulse  tells  the  condition  of  the  heart,  whether  the  disease  is 
of  an  exalted  or  depressed  character,  or  whether  sickness  is  at  all 
present.  The  pulse  is  more  frequent  in  young  than  in  old  animals. 
In  the  full-grown  and  healthy  horse  it  beats  from  thirty-two  to 
thirty-eight  in  a  minute ;  in  the  ox  or  cow,  thirty-five  to  forty- 
two;  in  the  sheep,  sevent}^  to  seventy-five;  and  in  the  dog,  from 
ninety  to  ninet3^-eight.  In  inflammation  and  fevers  the  frequency 
of  the  pulse  is  increased.  In  debility  and  depression  it  is  slower, 
but  sometimes  quicker  than  natural.  There  are  the  quick  pulse, 
the  strong,  the  sharp,  the  regular,  the  intermittent,  and  many 
other  varieties,  both  fancifu'l  and  real,  which  few  persons  can  ap- 
preciate. The  pulse  of  inflammation  and  fever  numbers  from 
seventy-five  to  eighty  beats  in  the  minute;  and  in  great  debility, 
as  in  the  last  stage  of  glanders,  accompanied  with  tubercles  of  the 
lungs,  the  pulse  will  number  one  hundred  beats  per  minute. 

Breathing. 

A  good-sized,  healthy  horse  will  take  one  inspiration  to  three 
of  the  pulse  beats.  When  the  breathing  is  more  frequent  or 
slower,  and  when  irregular,  or  difficult  and  laborious,  there  is  then 
disease ;  although  we  sometimes  see  the  breathing  quickened  and 
short,  when  no  disease  is  present.  Both  the  pulse  and  the  breath- 
ing will  be  quickened  by  exposure  to  heat,  as  a  stable  up-stairs, 
and  exposed  to  an  August  sun.  By  removing  the  animal  to  a 
stable  not  so  situated,  the  breathing  and  the  pulse  will  be  greatly 
lessened.  Hence  the  advantage  of  placing  animals  in  a  cool  and 
air}"  place  when  they  are  unwell.  It  saves  a  great  waste  of  their 
strength  and  vitality,  thereby  enabling  them  to  throw  off  the  eff'ects 

of  disease. 

Treatment  of  Disease. 

The  antiphlogistic  plan  of  treating  disease  was  derived  from  a 
theory  now  entirely  exploded,  and  almost  forgotten.  Repeated 
bleedings,  blistering,  physicking,  and  starving  on  low  diet,  are 
some  of  the  measures  entering  into  the  general  plan  which  has 
destroyed  more  life  and  property  than  all  the  wars,  ancient  or 
modern. 

Bleeding,  in  domestic  practice,  is  almost  discarded,  and  in 
18 


—  274- 

veterinar}^  practice  it  should  never  have  been  employed.  And  if 
this  fact  shall  be  the  means  of  opening  the  eyes  of  those  interested 
(and  who  is  not?j  in  tlie  health  of  the  animals  supplying  us  with 
meat,  and  the  horse  (a  willing  and  a  faithful  help),  to  the  injury 
done  by  bleeding  in  health  or  disease,  the  writer  will  have  his  re- 
ward. Avoid  these  measures,  and  substitute  a  rational  and  suc- 
cessful system  of  treating  the  diseases  of  your  animals.  Ascertain 
whether  your  horse  is  suffering  from  a  disease  of  an  exalted  or 
inflammatory  kind  ;  substitute  aconite,  pure  air,  and  cold  water  for 
bleeding,  and  in  a  few  hours  you  will  have  no  cause  to  regret  the 
change.  If  the  disease  be  of  a  depressed  kind,  accompanied  with 
weakness  and  debility,  give  nux  vomica,  iron,  and  generous  diet. 
If  the  disease  be  an  eruptive  fever,  give  sulphite  of  soda  to  purify 
the  blood.  In  rheumatism,  administer  colchicum  and  carbonate 
of  soda.  In  mange,  aj:>i3ly  the  sulphuret  of  potassa  to  the  skin, 
and  thereb}'-  destro}-  the  small  insects  which  cause  the  trouble. 

In  hard  swellings  use  the  preparations  of  iodine,  to  cause  their 
absorption.  In  lameness,  allow  absolute  and  entire  rest,  and  apply 
hot  or  cold  applications  and  slight  irritants  to  the  parts,  to  remove 
the  products  of  the  sprain.  Ascertain  the  cause  of  disease,  and 
havinof  found  it,  have  it  removed,  and  tlie  effects  will  cease.  If 
the  animal  be  costive  from  eating  dry,  concentrated  feed,  remove 
it,  and  give  green  feed  or  bran,  but  do  not  give  physic.  If 
diarrhoea  be  present,  leave  it,  at  least  for  a  time,  to  itself,  ns  it  is 
nature's  plan  of  getting  rid  of  tlie  ofiending  matter.  But,  if  it 
should  continue,  chalk  and  opium,  as  an  astringent,  are  what  is 
wanted.  The  reader  cannot  fail  to'see  how  simple,  and  his  experi- 
ence will  demonstrate  how  successful  tliese  measures  are  in  arrest- 
ing and  curing  the  disease  of  all  our  domestic  animals. 

How  Diseases  are  Cured  without  Medicine. 

Intelligent  persons  have  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  in  the  con- 
stitutions of  animals  and  men  a  power  of  self-restoration,  which 
is  capable  of  resisting  the  influence  of  disease.  It  is  this  power 
that  heals  wounds,  unites  broken  bones,  and  sup})lies  lost  sub- 
stances. Diseases  are  not  unfrequently  efforts  in  this  direction, 
intended  to  stay  the  action  of  hurtful  material  wlien  admitted  into 
the  system.     Wlien  the  eye,  for  instance,  receives  a  particle  of 


—  275  — 

sand  or  hay-seed,  the  wee])ing  of  the  secretions  of  pus  are  reme- 
dial measures  to  rid  it  of  the  offending  matter.  Poisons  are  good 
exaniples  of  the  manner  in  which  animals  will  cure  themselves. 
Wlien  poison  is  taken  into  the  stomach,  irritation  of  the  bowels  is 
set  up,  followed  by  purging,  as  an  effort  to  get  rid  of  the  poison. 
Nature,  however,  is  not  always  successful,  and  the  animal  may  die 
from  the  violent  action  set  up.  Again,  a  sprain  will  be  cured  by 
this  very  powder,  provided  absolute  and  entire  rest  be  allowed  to 
the  sprained  part  without  any  interference  from  medicine  or  art. 
The  remedial  powers  of  nature  often  require  assistance,  as,  for  in- 
stance, in  cases  of  debility,  when  the  blood  is  becoming  too  watery. 
A  few  doses  of  iron,  and  in  many  cases  a  little  extra  food,  will 
enable  the  sanative  powers  of  the  constitution  to  effect  a  complete 
cure.  Often  the  removal  of  an  animal  from  the  sphere  of  exciting 
causes  of  disease,  will  cause  the  efifect  to  cease,  and  the  power  of 
nature  will  cure  the  affection.  Hence,  many  persons  reflect  upon 
the  many  instances  when  apparently  severe  cases  of  sickness  were 
cured  b}^  some  simple  substance,  and  much  credit  given  to  a 
power  it  never  possessed.  Where  the  powers  of  nature  are  left  to 
perform  a  cure,  let  the  strength  of  the  animal  be  maintained,  be- 
cause if  that  fail,  where  is  the  chance  of  recovery  ?  Blood-letting 
and  physicking  are  powerful  and  depressing  agents ;  so  much  so, 
that  when  carried  to  any  extent,  few,  if  any  animals,  by  the  little 
power  that  may  be  left,  will  cure  themselves.  It  is  this  knowledge 
that  enables  Homoeopathists  to  continue  practice;  for  if  it  were 
not  for  this  power  in  the  constitution  in  each  and  every  animal, 
Homoeopathists  would  have  long  since  ceased  to  practise  their 
peculiar  art.  If  farmers  and  owners  of  horses  and  cattle  will  only 
cease  to  bleed,  and  pour  nostrums  down  the  throats  of  their  stock, 
and  learn  to  rely  more  upon  the  great  curative  that  God  has  im- 
planted in  the  constitution  of  all  His  creatures,  as  a  power  in 
protecting  their  lives  when  attacked  by  disease,  it  will  surely  be 
infinitely  more  profitable  and  pleasant  to  them.  In  curing  disease, 
medicine  and  art  should  be  directed  to  assist  the  powers  of  nature 
to  overcome  disease — nothing  more. 

Nature,  Symptoms,  Cause,  and  Treatment. 

An  alphabetical  classification  of  disease  is  the  only  arrangement 


—  276  — 

adapted  to  popular  instruction  and  domestic  use.  As  some  dis- 
eases have  more  than  one  common  name,  a  few  references  are  all 
that  may  be  necessar}^  to  find  the  particular  disease  wanted.  In 
every  disease  the  treatment  I  have  first  recommended  should  be 
tried  ;  and  if  it  be  not  successful,  the  next  in  order  will  be  taken. 
Also  begin  with  the  smallest  dose,  increasing,  diminishing,  or 
withdravring  it  altogether,  as  the  case  seems  to  require.  I  do  not 
think  it  necessary  to  quote  authorities  to  substantiate  what  is  said 
in  regard  to  this  or  that  medicine  as  a  remed}^  as  the  plans  and 
remedies  are  tliose  employed  by  the  profession. 

Abrasion  signifies  to  tear  off*,  and  is  applied  to  the  skin  when 
it  has  been  rubbed  or  torn  off,  and  to  the  lining  membranes  of  the 
nose.     Tlie  treatment  will  be  found  under  that  of  bleeding  wounds. 

Abscess. — This  is  also  called,  by  some  persons,  a  heeling — a 
formation  of  matter  or  pus  under  the  skin,  as  the  result  of  inflam- 
mation, either  acute  or  chronic.  Sometimes  abscess  in  bone  is 
seen,  also  of  the  liver  and  the  brain  ;  and,  indeed,  no  part  or  tissue 
of  an  animal  is  exempt  from  it. 

Syraptoms. — Pain,  heat  and  swelling ;  a  projection  or  prominence 
on  the  swelling  from  which  the  hair  falls  off,  disclosing  a  yellow, 
white  and  soft  part  upon  its  apex.  In  a  common  abscess  of  this 
kind,  it  will  onh'  be  necessary  to  hasten  the  formation  of  the  pus 
by  applying  poultices  of  flaxseed  or  some  other  soft  substance  to 
the  part,  and  when  the  point  is  soft  and  evidently  contains  fluid, 
make  an  opening  on  its  lowest  dependent  point  with  a  sharp  knife, 
so, that  the  discharge  will  flow  out  of  itself,  and  then  apply: 

Rain  Water, 1  ounce. 

Chloride  of  Zinc,     ....         6  grains. 
Mix  and  apply  to  the  wound  twice  a  day. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  open  an  abscess  too  soon,  or  before  the  pus 
lias  properly  formed.     (See  articles  on  Strangles  and  Fistula.) 

Acari. — fSee  Mange.) 

Accidents. — When  a  horse  falls  whilst  drawing  a  vehicle — 

1.  Jump  down  and  hold  the  animal's  head,  to  prevent  his  dash- 
ing it  about  to  his  own  injur}'. 

2.  Loosen  the  check-rein  fif  you  are  so  foolish  as  to  use  one)  and 
the  parts  of  the  harness  which  fasten  on  the  vehicle. 


—  277  — 

3.  Back  the  carriage,  so  as  to  get  the  shafts  and  traces  clear. 

4.  Stead}"  and  support  the  horse's  head,  and  excite  him,  with 
hand  and  voice,  to  rise. 

5.  When  you  have  got  him  up,  pat  and  encourage  the  poor 
animal,  and  see  if  he  is  wounded,  or  otherwise  injured. 

6.  Let  him  stand  still  a  short  time  to  recover  himself,  and  then 
proceed  gently  and  with  greater  caution  than  before.  (See  Sprains, 
Bruises,  Bleeding,  and  Wounds.) 

Aconite. — (See  Medicines.) 

Alteratives. — This  term  is  not  very  scientific,  but  it  is  in  very 
general  use,  and  easily  explains  its  own  meaning,  though  the 
jiiodus  operandi  of  the  drugs  employed  to  carry  it  out  is  not  so 
clear.  The  object  is  to  replace  unhealthy  action  by  a  healthy  one^ 
without  resorting  to  any  of  the  distinctly-defined  remedies,  such 
as  tonics,  stomachics,  etc.  As  a  general  rule,  this  class  of  remedies 
produce  their  effect  by  acting  slowly  but  steadily  on  the  depuratory 
organs,  as  the  liver,  kidneys,  and  skin.  The  following  may  be 
found  useful  for  general  use  : 

Black  sulphuret  of  antimony,   .        .         .  2  to  4  drachms. 

Sulphur, 2  drachms. 

Nitre, 2  drachms. 

To  be  given  mixed  in  cut  feed  at  night  only. 

Amaurosis. — Glass  eye.     (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Anaemia. — Deficient  or  bad  blood. 

Anchylosis. — (See  Spavin  and  Open  .Joints.) 

Aneurism. — A  pulsating  tumor,  produced  by  the  rupture  of 
the  inner  coats  of  the  vessel,  and  the  blood  getting  between  it  and 
the  outer  coat.  They  manifest  themselves  in  many  parts  of  the 
body.  An  expert  surgeon  is  onh'  capable  of  remedjang  it,  as  great 
danger  of  bleeding  to  death  would  result  from  opening  a  tumor  of 
this  kind. 

Apoplexy. — Symptoms.  The  animal  falling  suddenlv,  loss  of 
feeling  and  the  power  of  motion,  and  breathing  deep  and  slow.  In 
most  cases  the  horse  gets  up  again,  shakes  himself,  and  proceeds  on 
his  journey  almost  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  but  it  will  shortly 
be  seen  that  the  animal  is  not  so  livelv  as  formerlv,  and  that  it  will 


—  278  — 

afterwards  be  unsafe  to  use  him,  especially  for  a  family  carriage, 
as  in  a  fit  of  this  kind  the  horse  may  become  entirely  unmanage- 
able, and  can  only  be  controlled  by  a  power  stronger  tluin  his  own. 
Horses  subject  to  disease  of  this  kind  will,  at  times,  be  observed 
to  look  sleepy,  with  a  slight  knuckling  of  the  hind  pastern-joints, 
accompanied  with  stiffness  of  the  hind  quarters  and  lopping  of  the 
ears.  All  these  symptoms  are  seen  in  brain  diseases,  as  Staggers, 
Megrims,  and  Epilepsy.     (Which  see.) 

Causes.  Breaking  of  a  blood-vessel,  effusion  or  water  on  the 
brain,  producing  pressure,  too  small  a  collar  on  a  tliiek-necked 
horse,  interfering  with  a  free  circulation  of  the  blood  to  and  from 
the  head,  effects  of  the  sun — sunstroke.     (Coup-de-soleiL) 

In  severe  cases  of  Apoplexy,  many  never  had  the  use  of  their 
legs  again,  b}'  their  remaining  palsied.     (See  Palsy.) 

Treatment.  Apply  chopped  ice  to  the  head,  in  bags,  and  secured 
by  proper  fixings.  Keep  up  a  free  circulation  in  the  legs  by 
rubbing  and  woollen  bandages,  or  warm  water  cloths,  and  renewed 
every  half-hour.     Then  apply  a  small  blister  of 

Spanish  Fly i  drachm. 

Hog's  Lard 2  drachms. 

Mix  them  well  together,  and  rub  the  salve  well  in  by  the  hand 
on  the  part  just  behind  the  ears. 

Do  not  bleed,  as  that  measure  will  only  insure  eS'usion,  and,  as 
in  the  brain,  ultimately  cause  death  or  dumbness.     (Which  see.) 

If  there  be  much  exaltation  or  excitement,  give  fifteen  drops  of 
the  tincture  of  aconite  root  every  four  hours,  till  five  or  six  doses 
are  taken.  If  the  contrary  condition  be  present,  that  is,  depres- 
sion, give  from  ten  to  fifteen  drops  of  the  tincture  of  nux  vomica 
four  times  a  day,  for  a  few  da^'S,  or  a  week,  if  necessary.  These 
medicines  are  best  given  in  cold  water,  when  the  animal  will  drink 
it ;  if  not,  mix  with  a  cup  of  water,  and  drench  out  of  a  stout- 
necked  bottle.     Feed  the  horse  generously  and  well. 

Aphtha. — (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Atrophy. — Wasting  and  shrinking  of  a  part  of  the  muscle,  as 
is  seen  in  sweenie  o^  the  shoulder;  consumption  and  disease  of 
the  mesentery,  and  also  palsy  or  paralysis  of  the  hind  legs,  from 
which  the  muscles  of  the  hip  will  be  seen  to  have  fallen  awa3\ 


—  279  — 

Causes.  The  parts  deprived  of  their  proper  use,  action  or 
function.  A  long-continued  corn  on  the  fool  of  a  horse,  depriving 
liini  of  the  ])roper  use  of  that  linih,  will  cause  shrinking  of  the 
subsca[)ul(iris  muscle  of  the  shoulder. 

Treatment.  Removal  of  the  cause,  and  restoring  the  functions 
of  the  parts  to  their  proper  condition.  In  case  of  many  joint 
diseases,  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  the  horse  walked  before  he  is 
cured,  to  prevent  too  much  wasting  of  the  parts  from  long  standing 
and  want  of  use. 

Back  Sinuses. — (See  Sprain.) 

Baldness. — (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Belly-ache. — (See  Colic.) 

Big  Head. — (See  Osteoporosis.) 

Bishoping. — Bishoping  is  the  name  of  an  operation  performed 
upon  the  front  or  nipper  teeth  of  horses  that  are  more  than  eight 
years  old,  for  the  purpose  of  imitating  the  mark  of  the  teeth  of 
young  horses,  in  order  to  deceive  those  persons  who  are  supposed 
to  be  poor  judges  in  the  age  of  horses.  It  can  rarely  deceive  any 
person  of  ordinary  intelligence.  The  general  appearance  of  the 
horse  will  soon  tell  if  he  be  an  old  or  young  animal. 

Bite  of  Mad  Dog. — AMien  any  reasonable  suspicion  exists 
that  the  dog  is  mad,  have  the  parts  completely  washed  out  with 
cold  water,  if  possible  forced  with  a  syringe  or  hydrant,  so  as  the 
water  will  find  its  way  to  the  bottom  of  the  wound,  and  wash  out 
any  virus  that  may  have  lodged  there. 

If  the  bite  be  upon  the  leg  of  man,  horse  or  other  animal,  or 
man's  arm  or  finger,  a  Tourniquet  or  soft  rope  or  cord  should  be 
tied  tightly  around  the  leg  above  the  bite,  till  other  measures  are 
used  to  have  the  bite  purified.  After  the  cord  is  properly  applied, 
have  the  parts  washed  out;  next  either  cut  a  portion  of  the  flesh 
from  the  top,  sides  and  bottom  of  the  wound,  or  apply  caustic  to 
the  parts.  The  nitrate  of  silver  is  possibly  the  best  for  this  pur- 
pose. A  few  drops  of  nitric,  hydrochloric  or  sulphuric  acid  may 
be  dropped  into  the  wound,  and  by  the  burning  properties  of  these 
articles  the  destructive  character  of  the  poison  will  be  destroyed. 

After  these  measures  have  been  satisfactorily  performed,  the 
wounds  should  be  treated  as  for  common  wounds  with  simple 
ointment  (see  Prescriptions  and  Medicines).     The  bite  of  other 


—  280  — 

rabid  or  poisonous  animals  should  be  treated  in  the  same  manner. 
Persons  have  been  bold  enougli  to  have  allowed  themselves  to  be 
bitten  by  mad  dogs  no  less  than  seven  times,  and  then  applying 
the  nitrate  of  silver  as  a  caustic  to  the  bites,  never  became  affected 
with  the  canine  disease.  However,  too  much  dependence  should 
not  be  j^laced  in  any  one  measure  as  a  protection  in  such  cases. 
The  great  protection  is,  do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  bitten  at  all,  if 
it  can  be  avoided. 

Bites  from  a  healthy  dog  will  never  produce  madness,  even 
although  the  animal  go  mad  in  a  year  or  two  afterward,  so  keep 
your  mind  easy  on  that  point. 

Bladder  Diseases. — 1.  Inflammation. — This  condition  of 
disease  is  sometimes  met  with,  but  is  rare  in  horses. 

Causes.     Irritating  substances  or  foreign  bodies  in  the  bladder. 

Symptoms.  Constant  desire  to  make  water,  pain,  straddling  or 
walking  wide  with  the  hind  legs,  great  tenderness  under  the  belly. 

Treatment.  Inject  a  little  warm  oil  into  the  bladder.  This  can 
only  be  done  by  an  expert  and  with  a  proper  instrument.  Give 
25  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  every  four  hours,  till  six 
doses  are  given,  to  keep  down  pain.  Allow  flaxseed  tea  to  drink, 
or  drench  the  horse  with  it,  which  has  an  excellent  soothing  effect. 
Give  plenty  of  cold  water  to  drink. 

2.  Calculi. — This  variety  of  stone  is  sometimes  found  in  tlie 
bladder  and  kidne3'S  of  horses.  This  may  be  said  to  be  the  gravel 
of  the  horse,  although  not  so  common  as  in  man,  but  is  equally 
troublesome  and  requires  for  its  cure  a  formidable  operation  called 
Lithotomy^  an  operation  of  no  great  magnitude  to  an  expert  sur- 
geon, but  can  scarcely  be  undertaken  by  an  unprofessional  person, 
even  though  a  description  of  it  were  given. 

Bleeding.— 1.  Bleeding. — An  operation  for  the  drawing  of  blood 
from  the  body,  either  locally  or  generall  v.  As  before  stated,  it  is 
almost  entirely  discarded  from  domestic  practice,  and  should  never 
be  used  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  animals,  however  much 
the  adherent  of  [in  exploded  and  an  erroneous  system  may 
doubt  it.  Medicines  will  be  described  in  this  book  that  will  not 
onh'-  insure  greater  success  in  saving  a  very  much  greater  percent- 
age of  sick  animals,  and  with  less  trouble  in  a  much  shorter  time. 


—  281  — 

and  without  in  any  way  impairing  the  sanative  powers  of  the 
animal's  constitution. 

2.  Blkeding  from  Wounds.— ^If  the  wound  be  a  simple  one, 
and  not  on  tlie  inside  of  a  leg  where  the  large  blood  vessels  are 
situated,  all  that  will  be  necessary  to  stop  it  will  be  a  small  piece 
of  cotton  or  soft  cloth  placed  in  and  over  the  wound,  and  secure 
it  for  a  few  hours  by  a  broad  bandage,  not  too  tightly  applied  over 
it,  or,  if  ])referred,  touch  the  mouth  of  the  bleeding  vessel  with  a 
piece  of  iron  [)reviously  immersed  in  boiling  water  or  in  the  fire 
itself.  Tlie  surgeon's  plan  would  he  to  get  hold  of  the  mouth 
of  the  vein  or  arter}^  with  a  pair  of  artery  forceps  or  small 
tongs,  to  hold  it  so  that  he  can  tie  a  piece  of  saddler's  silk  around 
it.  If  the  wound  be  on  the  inside  of  the  hind  or  fore  leg,  and  the 
blood  of  a  scarlet  color  (see  Blood),  place  pads  of  cloth  and  band- 
age pretty  tightly  over  it,  and  run  for  a  good  surgeon,  and  tell 
him  what  the  trouble  is,  so  that  he  will  go  properly  prepared  for 
his  work. 

3.  Bleeding  from  the  Air  Passages  and  Lungs. — Observe 
the  color  of  the  blood  discharged  from  the  nose  or  mouth,  as  the 
veins  of  the  lungs  convey  blood  similar  to  the  arterial  blood  of 
the  other  parts  of  the  body. 

Causes.  The  laying  bare,  and  the  rupture  of  small  vessels,  and 
the  structure  of  the  lungs,  breaking  down  as  in  consumption,  and 
some  cases  of  glanders  and  coryza. 

Treatment.  Su])p()rt  the  strength  by  the  mineral  acids  (see 
Acids),  and  small  doses  of  aconite  to  lessen  arterial  circulation. 
Bear  in  mind  in  cases  where  the  structure  of  the  lungs  is  falling 
to  pieces,  no  power  or  art  can  arrest  it.  Hence,  the  incurability 
of  consumption. 

4.  Bleeding  from  the  Skin. — This  disease  is  sometimes  called 
purpura. 

Symptoms.  After  general  uneasiness,  some  pain,  fever,  and 
swelling  of  the  legs  and  other  parts  of  the  body;  tumors,  varying 
from  the  size  of  a  cranberry  to  that  of  a  pigeon's  egg,  often  run- 
ning together,  forming  large  patches  from  which  blood  is  oozed 
out  in  great  quantities,  giving  rise  to  much  debility.  The  con- 
tagious typhus  or  rinderpest  of  cattle  bears  many  resemblances  to 
this  disease  of  the  horse. 


—  282  — 

Treatment.  P'eed  the  animal  on  the  best  food  that  can  be  pro- 
cured, and  put  forty  dro})s  of  commercial  sulphuric  acid  in  half  a 
bucket  of  cold  water  tliree  to  four  times  in  the  day.  Then  get 
two  ounces  each  of  tlie  sulphate  of  copper  and  gentian  root  in 
powder,  and  divide  into  eight  powders,  and  give  one  night  and 
morning  in  the  feed. 

Apply  to  the  bleeding  surface  and  sores  a  liniment  composed 
as  follows:  Olive  oil,  three  ounces;  creosote,  one  ounce  ;  mix  and 
use  once  in  the  twenty-four  hours.     (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Bloody  Urine. — {See  Kidney  Diseases.) 

Blood. — Blood  is  observed  to  be  of  two  colors,  namely,  red,  or 
almost  of  a  bright  scarlet.  When  blood  of  this  color  is  issuing 
from  wounds  in  jets  or  jerks,  it  is  considered  more  dangerous  than 
if  it  were  of  a  dark-red,  or  venous  blood.  Tlie  first  is  direct  from 
the  heart  itself  and  the  other  is  from  a  more  remote  and  less  dan- 
gerous part. 

It  ma}^  be  interesting  to  know  that  red  globules  are  more  plenti- 
ful in  blooded  or  well-bred  horses  than  in  horses  of  a  coarser 
kind,  which  accounts  for  a  curious  fact  observed  in  the  difference 
of  vitalit}'.  Thus,  a  blooded  horse  bears  up  under  diseased  action, 
and  is  cured,  whilst  a  western  or  common  horse  will  die  under  the 
same  disease. 

The  fluid  portion  of  blood  is  called  liquor  sanguinis,  in  which 
the  red  globules  or  spheres  float.  When  blood  is  drawn  from  the 
body,  it  divides  into  two  parts :  the  solid  is  called  clot,  and  the 
other  is  the  serum.  This  serum  was  once  relied  upon,  and  is  still 
by  the  ignorant,  as  showing  the  existence  of  inflammation.  It  is 
by  the  blood  that  the  strength,  wear,  and  tear  of  the  system  is 
kept  up.  The  heart  is  the  organ  by  wdiich  tlie  blood  is  forced 
through  the  bod3\  If  the  blood  be  thin  and  watery,  it  is  called 
hydronemia.  (See  Dropsy.)  If  pus  be  in  the  blood,  it  is  then 
called  pyemia.     (See  Glanders.) 

Boils. — (See  Saddle  or  Harness  Galls.) 

Bots. — (See  Worms.) 

Bowels,  Disease  of. — (See  Costiveness,  Diarrhoea,  and  Dj^sen- 
tery. 

1.  Inflammation  of  the  Bowels. — Symptoms.  Acute  pain  in 
the  belh^,  and  continuous,  getting  no  intervals  of  rest  from  the 


—  283  — 

pain.  Rolling,  p;i\vwig,  and  shifting  about,  sweating,  and  breath- 
ing fast,  with  great  fever,  exaltation,  and  excitement.  A  fearful 
disease.     Happily  not  so  frequent  as  formerl3^ 

Can  only  be  mistaken  for  colic  (wiiich  see).  In  colic  there  are 
times  of  ease  and  })ain,  but  never  in  this  disease. 

Causes.  Exposure  to  cold,  drinking  cold  water  in  great  quantities 
when  hot,  calculi,  or  hair  balls  in  the  bowels,  costiveness,  diarrhoea, 
and  as  a  sequel  to  colic,  lead  and  other  poisons    which  see). 

Treatment.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  lessen  or  destroy  pain. 
Give  a  large  dose  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root,  say  thirty  drops, 
to  be  repeated  in  two  hours.  Apply  blankets  wrung  out  of  boil- 
ing water  to  the  belly,  and  renew  them  in  about  twenty  minutes. 
Give  injections  odvarm  not  Aoc  water,  soap,  and  a  handful  of  table 
salt  everv  half  hour.  Continue  the  treatment  while  there  is 
enough  strength  remaining. 

Bleeding  will  only  insure  and  liasten  death,  and  purgatives  are 
too  slow  to  act — the  horse  is  either  dead,  or  will  be  before  any 
response  can  be  luid  from  theni. 

Brain  Diseases. — Tlie  brain  and  its  coverings,  or  membranes, 
are  subject  to  inflammations  of  every  degree.  (See  Apoplexy  and 
Staggers.) 

Breaking  Down. — This  accident  means  or  consists  in  rupture 
of  the  tendons  and  ligaments,  and  occurs  at  once  when  the  horse 
is  at  full  speed. 

Sym}-)toins.  The  horse  stops  suddenly,  or  perhaps  stumbles  and 
falls  ;  gets  up  but  stands  on  his  fetlocks,  the  toe  of  the  foot  turned 
up,  and  the  sole  of  the  foot,  as  it  were,  looking  at  you. 

Treatment.  If  the  fetlock  comes  entirely  to  the  ground,  not  much 
cnn  be  done;  and  when  it  does  not,  contraction  of  the  leg  takes 
place,  and  requires  division  of  the  tendon.     (See  Tendeotomy.) 

Breathing  Short. — This  is  a  symptom  of  irritation,  inflamma- 
tion, debility,  weakness,  oppressions  of  every  kind,  and  fever 
(which  see). 

Breeze  Flies. — This  is  the  fly  supposed,  but  erroneously,  to  be 
the  one  tliat  deposits  the  ova  or  eggs,  which  generate  hots  in  horses. 
(See  Worms.) 

Brittle  Feet. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Bronchi. — This  term  means  the  windpipe,  and  communicates 


—  284  — 

and  carries  the  atmosphere  to  and  from  tlie  lui^s.  It  is  tlie  seat  of 
disease,  and  is  affected  more  or  less  in  all  cases  of  colds  and  inflam- 
mations, whether  of  the  lungs  or  the  membranes — the  pleura. 

Bronchitis. — Inflammation  of  the  Air  Passages  or  the 
Parts  Enumerated  Above. — This  is  a  very  common  disease 
among  horses,  and  is  confounded  bv  most  horse  doctors  with 
inflammation  of  the  lungs,  distempers,  and  colds ;  whereas,  it  is 
distinguished  from  inflammation  of  the  lungs  by  its  seat,  and 
from  the  others  by  as  great  a  dissimilarity. 

Bronchitis  occurs  in  various  degrees  of  intensity,  and  should  at 
least  be  described  under  two  heads,  notwithstanding  the  one 
distinction  ma}'  run,  as  it  does  sometimes,  into  the  other. 

1.  Acute  Bron-chitis. — Symptoms.  Ushered  in  by  a  chill,  fever, 
harsh  or  painful  cough,  loss  of  appetite,  heaving  at  the  flanks, 
mouth  hot  and  dry.  In  a  day  or  so,  a  discharge  of  pus  or  matter 
will  be  observed  from  one  or  both  nostrils. 

If  bleeding,  or  other  severe  measures  be  used,  the  horse  will  as- 
suredly die,  not  so  much  from  the  disease,  but  from  maltreatment. 
Better,  in  a  disease  of  this  kind,  let  nature  have  her  wa}',  and  give 
the  horse  a  chance  for  his  life  ;  for  in  the  other  case,  he  has  ab- 
solutely none  whatever. 

Treatment.  First,  the  horse  should  be  treated  as  for  fever.  Place 
the  horse  in  an  open  or  airy  place,  embraced  by  the  word  "  com- 
fortable." Obviously  it  would  not  be  comfortable  to  place  a  sick 
horse  in  an  open  place,  with  the  thermometer  below  zero.  In 
July  or  August  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  burden  the  animal  with 
blankets. 

Give  him  from  fifteen  to  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite 
root  every  four  hours,  till  six  doses  are  taken.  This  will  relieve 
the  fever,  breatliing,  and  the  hot  and  dr^'  mouth.  Give  plenty  of 
cold  water  to  drink,  for  })ain  and  fever  require  plent}'  of  fluid,  as 
all  the  secretions  are  dried  up.  Let  the  animal  have  a  little  grass, 
if  it  can  be  got;  this  will  relax  the  bowels,  and  cool  the  stomach. 
On  the  second  day,  the  following  medicines  may  be  given,  that  is, 
if  they  be  necessary:  Powdered  gentian  root,  two  ounces;  pow- 
dered nux  vomica,  one  ounce.  Mix,  and  divide  into  six  powders, 
and  give  one  powder  morning,  noon  and  night.  These  medicines 
will  prevent  debility  and  depression,  and  the  pouring  out  of  fluid 


—  285  — 

or  serum  into  the  legs,  sheath,  helly  and  i)rc'ast.  After  the  fever 
lias  been  removed,  allow  good  feed,  and  a  fair  (jUaiUity  of  it.  Such 
treatment  will  not  only  cure  the  horse  in  five  or  six  days,  but  the 
horse  is  nothing  the  worse,  be3^ond  the  loss  of  a  few  days'  work. 

2.  Chronic  Bronchitis. — Symjitoms.  A  confirmed  cough,  more 
or  less  severe,  and  a  discharge  from  the  nose.  The  cough  worse  in 
the  morning,  and  after  drinking  water. 

Causes.  ]\Ialtreatment  of  acute  cases  of  bronchitis,  and  wdiere 
the  attack  has  been  prolonged  beyond  a  reasonable  time,  causing 
ulceration  or  thickening  of  the  windpipe. 

Treatment.  Give  extract  of  belladonna,  half  drachm,  powdered 
digitalis,  half  di-aclmi,  three  times  in  tlie  day,  morning,  noon  and 
night,  for  a  few  days.  If  no  good  seems  to  have  been  done,  a 
different  plan  will  have  to  be  adopted,  namely  :  feed  the  animal 
well,  and  give  sulphate  of  iron,  two  drachms  in  powder;  gentian 
root,  two  drachms  in  })owder  twice  in  the  da}'  for  two  weeks.  By 
this  time  the  absorbent  system  will  be  prett}'  powerful.  Then 
ap])ly  the  following  salve  or  ointment,  well  rubbed  in  down  the 
course  of  the  windpipe,  once  in  the  week.  Lard,  one  ounce;  red 
iodide  of  mercury,  one  drachm.  Mix.  This  will  cause  whatever 
thickening  may  exist  to  be  absorbed  or  taken  up.  Lard  or  oil  will 
have  to  be  applied  once  per  day  on  the  place  wh.ere  the  ointment 
was  applied,  to  prevent  the  skin  from  cracking.  If  the  animal  be 
debilitated,  give  occasionally  sixty  drops  of  commercial  sulpliuric 
acid  in  half  a  bucket  of  cold  water  to  drink. 

Bronchocele. — Pronounced  *'  Bronch-se«/,"  is  an  enlargement 
of  the  thyroid  gland,  and  is  situated  on  and  in  front  of  the 
windpipe,  about  three  inches  from  the  lower  jaw.  In  horses  it  is 
only  an  eye-sore  or  blemish. 

Causes.  In  the  horse  it  is  unknown,  nor  is  it  determined  what 
ofTice  or  use  the  thyroid  gland  performs  in  man  or  animals. 

Treatment.  Apply  with  friction  by  the  hand  once  a  week,  bin- 
iodide  of  mercury,  one  drachm  ;  hog's  lard,  one  ounce.  Mix,  and 
make  an  ointment.  Rub  in  a  piece  about  the  size  of  a  hickory- 
nut  over  and  around  the  enlargement. 

Broken  Knees. — When  a  horse  stumbles  and  fiills  upon  his 
knees,  and  takes  the  hair  and  some  of  the  skin  off,  tliis  is  called 
broken  knees. 


—  286  — 

Treatment.  Wasli  and  cleanse  the  parts  from  sand  and  dirt,  and 
if  the  skin  is  ragged  and  torn,  clip  off  with  a  good  pair  of  scissors. 
After  this  is  done,  ascertain  if  there  is  any  discharge  from  the  sore 
of  an  oily  sul)stance,  and  if  so  get  a  smooth  piece  of  iron,  immerse 
it  for  ten  minutes  in  boiling  water,  and  apply  it  to  the  edges  of  the 
wound,  so  as  to  cause  the  parts  to  swell,  and  prevent  the  escape 
of  the  joint  oil;  for  if  this  be  allowed  to  escape,  the  ends  of  the 
bones  will  come  against  one  another.  Irritation  and  inflamma- 
tion will  be  set  up,  and  either  destroy  the  life  of  the  horse,  or 
make  an  anchylosed  or  stiff'  joint.  This  is  an  important  point  to 
be  observed,  and  that  very  early  in  all  cases  of  broken  knees  or 
open  joints  wherever  situated.  After  the  hot  iron  has  been  ap- 
plied, use  the  following  wash  twice  in  a  day  : — Sulphate  of  zinc, 
half  an  ounce  ;  rain,  or  soft  water,  eight  ounces.  Mix.  This  will 
heal  the  sore,  and  j)revent  proud  flesh  from  growing.  This  wash 
will  answer  for  the  more  simple  wound  of  the  knee,  and  where 
there  is  no  open  joint.  Do  not  apply  bandages, as  they  will  cause 
the  whole  leg  to  inflame  and  swell.  Sometimes  a  kind  of  pouch 
will  be  formed  by  the  lower  edge  of  the  wound,  holding  whatever 
pus  or  other  fluid  ma}'  escape.  This  pouch  should  be  opened  at 
its  lowest  bottom,  so  as  to  let  the  fluids  out,  and  to  prevent  a 
bulge  or  permanent  swelling  remaining  after  the  knee  has  other- 
wise healed.  By  attention  to  this,  very  little  or  no  blemish  or  scar 
will  be  left  to  tell  the  tale  of  a  stumbling  horse,  or  a  bad  horse- 
man. 

Bruises  of  the  Sole. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Burns  and  Scalds. — Injuries  inflicted  upon  some  parts  of  the 
body  by  the  application  of  solid  heat,  is  called  burns;  by  fluid 
heat,  scalds. 

Treatment.  In  horses  the  treatment  is  chiefly  local;  for  in  cases 
of  fire  in  large  cities,  the  generation  of  steam  is  sometimes  so  great, 
that  it  is  inhaled  by  animals  in  the  burning  building:  this  is 
termed  scalding.  Xot  much  can  be  done,  nor  is  there  much 
hope  of  a  cure  in  cases  of  this  kind.  The  utmost  that  can  be  done 
is  to  give  j)lentv  of  cold  water  to  drink,  and  keep  down  pain  by 
means  of  aconite  (which  see). 

For  burns  the  best  application  will  be,  one  pint  of  linseed  oil, 
and  half  a  pint  of  lime  water,  stirred  together,  or  rather  wijipped 


—  287  — 

(as  cooks  usually  do  eggs),  till  the  mixture  is  like  thick  cream. 
Tliis  is  to  l)e  a})plicd  to  the  burned  places,  spread  on  cotton  or 
linen  rags,  for  a  few  days:  then  the  sores  are  to  be  dressed  with 
green  ointment.     (vSee  Ointments.) 

Bursa  Mucosa  Enlarged. — (See  Spavin  and  Wind  Galls.) 

Calculi. — Stone  in  the  bladder. 

Cancer. — This  is  a  hard  tumor,  malignant  in  its  character,  at 
first  small  in  size,  but  rapidly  increases,  and  becomes  ulcerated. 
The  horse  is  not  affected  with  so  many  varieties  of  cancerous 
growth  as  the  ox  and  the  dog,  and  even  man  himself  Melanotic 
cancer  is  most  commonly  seen  in  gray  horses  or  those  that  turn 
white  with  age.  A  sm;dl  hurd  tumor  is  usually  seen  under  the 
root  of  the  tail  and  about  the  anus. 

When  tumors  of  this  kind  are  seen  on  gray  horses,  it  may  rea- 
yoiiably  be  expected  that  growths  of  the  same  character  will  be 
found  inside,  on  the  spleen,  stomach,  and  liver.  Horses  so  affected 
may  work  well  for  years,  and  may  not  for  a  month.  The  tumors 
increase  in  size;  when  cut  into,  they  discharge  a  fluid  as  black  as 
the  ink  of  tlie  cuttle-fish. 

Causes.  As  this  disease  is  not  seen  in  young  gray  horses  until 
they  have  almost  turned  white,  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  cause 
results  from  the  loss  or  want  of  the  usual  pigment,  or  coloring 
matter,  vrhich  gives  color  to  the  hair,  thus  depriving  the  animal 
of  some  protection  from  the  air  or  sun.  I  think,  however,  that 
the  true  cause  will  be  found  to  be,  not  in  the  loss  of  the  coloring 
matter,  but  of  its  transfer  from  the  skin  and  hair  to  the  blood. 
Plence  the  inky  color  of  the  contents  of  the  tumors.  This  opinion, 
which  is  my  own,  is  still  further  corroborated  by  the  fact  tliat  it" 
the  pus  be  taken  from  an  abscess  and  injected  into  the  blood  of  a 
healthy  animal,  carbuncles  containing  pus  Avill  soon  manifest 
themselves. 

Treatment.  Incurable;  but  when  one  of  these  tumors  breaks, 
treat  it  as  an  ordinary  abscess  (which  see). 

Canine  Rabies. — (See  Hydrophobia.) 

Capped  Elbow. — This  is  an  enlargement  on  the  point  of  the 
<.'lbow,  just  behind  the  shoulder,  and  on  the  side  of  the  chest; 
sometimes  it  is  in  the  form  of  a  simple  abscess  (which  see).     But 


—  288  — 

tlie  usual  form  is  that  of  aii  encysted  tumor,  or  a  fluid  contained 
within  a  CN'st  of  fleshy  walls,  which  do  not  su[)purate. 

Cause.  Tlie  horse,  when  lying,  rests  the  point  of  the  elbow  upon 
tlie  heels  of  his  front  slioe.  It  is  a  symptom  of  disease  of  the  leg, 
preventing  the  animal  from  proper]}^  flexing  or  bending  the  leg 
proper  upon  its  thigh  or  arm.  Hence  the  elbow  rests  upon  the 
foot. 

Prevention.  Remove  whatever  disease  may  be  in  the  leg,  and 
place  a  pad  of  leather,  or  of  coarse,  heavy  cloth,  over  the  back 
part  of  the  foot.     Pads  are  made  by  harness  makers. 

Treatment.  Make  an  incision  with  a  sharjj  knife  through  the 
skin,  over  the  centre  of  the  swelling,  and  carefully  dissect  the  cyst 
from  its  attachments.  This  can  be  done  with  the  fingers  and  a 
blunt  piece  of  wood,  flattened  at  its  points  like  a  butter  knife,  and 
no  sharper.  If  the  operator  be  timid,  and  think  he  cannot  cue 
the  cyst  out,  open  it,  and  let  out  the  matter,  and  inject,  once  per 
day,  a  little  tincture  of  iodine,  to  kill  the  walls  of  the  cyst,  so  that 
it  will  not  fill  again.  (See  Medicines  )  A  knife  is  only  w^anted 
to  cut  the  skin.  After  the  tumor  is  taken  out,  treat  the  part  as  a 
simple  wound,  by  keeping  it  clean,  and  applying  a  solution  of 
zinc,  or  blue  stone. 

Chapped  Hock. — This  is  a  soft  swelling  on  the  point  of  the 
hock-joint. 

Causes.  Kicking  in  the  stable  or  in  harness,  lying  upon  stone- 
paved  stalls,  and  from  being  kicked  b}'  an}^  other  horse. 

Treatment.  Apph'  cold  water  cloths  to  the  part  for  a  few  days, 
taking  them  off  at  night.  After  the  heat  and  tenderness  have 
subsided,  apply,  with  rubbing,  once  every  fifth  day,  for  three 
times,  if  it  be  necessar}?',  an  ointment  composed  of  one  drachm  of 
iodide  of  morcurv  ,  and  hog^s  lard,  one  ounce.     Mix. 

Carditis. — This  is  applied  to  disease  of  the  heart.  Heart 
disease  is  also  known  as  the  Thumps.  Incurable.  (See  Heart 
Disease.) 

Caries. — This  term  means  an  ulceration  of  the  bone.  The  most 
frequent  form  of  caries  is  seen  on  the  lower  jaw-bone;  the  teeth 
are  next  affected.  If  tlie  upper  teeth  be  ulcerated  to  any  extent, 
a  fetid  (stinking)  discharge  will  run  from  the  nostril  upon  the  side 
on  which  the    diseased   teeth    are  situated,  wdiicli  has    been    re- 


—  289  — 

peatedly  mistaken  for  glanders  by  "  horse  doctors."  If  caries  of 
tlie  bones  of  the  head  exist,  the  swelHng  of  the  head  will  be  enor- 
mous— Big-Head,  or  Ostkopokosis — and  not  Osteosarcoma^  as  it  has 
been  called. 

Cause.  A  disposition  in  the  system  to  appropriate  to  the  bones 
more  calcareous  or  eartliy  matter  than  is  required. 

Treatment.  If  caries  be  confined  to  the  teetli,  have  them  taken 
out.  When  confined  to  the  bones  of  the  head,  it  is  incurable. 
The  animal  will  die  of  hunger,  as  he  is  unable  to  use  his  tongue 
and  jaws,  or  gather  and  chew  his  feed.  Happily,  it  is  not  a  com- 
mon disease. 

Castration. — This  is  an  operation  for  the  purpose  of  depriving 
the  liorse-colt  of  his  entirety  by  the  removal  of  the  testes.  It  is  a 
simple  and  safe  operation.  Any  person  having  once  seen  it  done, 
can  do  it  also,  if  he  have  the  resolution  to  do  so.  It  has  been 
recenth''  demonstrated  that  castration  can  be  performed  on  aged 
horses  with  as  much  safety  as  on  those  in  colthood.  This  is  attrib- 
uted to  the  mode  or  manner  of  operation,  namely,  by  an  instru- 
ment called  the  Ecraseur. 

No  clamps,  no  firing  nor  twitching,  nor  any  trouble  afterward. 
The  instrument  is  manufactured  especially  for  this  purpose,  by 
surgical  instrument  makers. 

Cataract. — (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Catarrh.— (See  Cold.) 

Cautery. — This  term  is  applied  to  the  operation  of  searing  a 
part  with  a  red  hot  iron.  Happih^,  this  cruel,  and  in  many  in- 
stances unnecessary  operation,  is  becoming  among  the  things  tliat 
were.  It  used  to  be  applied  to  sprains,  ring-bones,  and  spavins. 
Since  the  discovery  of  the  preparations  of  iodine,  and  their  absorb- 
ent properties,  the  iron  is  little  used. 

Cerebro-Spinal  Meningitis. — (See  Typhosus.) 

Chest  Diseases. — 'J'lie  diseases  of  the  chest  are  man}^  and  im- 
portant. In  it  are  the  henrt,  lungs,  and  great  blood  vessels.  Tlie 
diseases  of  these  organs  will  be  found  under  Inflammation  of  the 
lungs,  or  Lung  Fever,  Pleurisy,  Coughs,  Bronchitis,  and  Glanders. 

Chest  Founder. — (See  Founder.) 

Chilblains. — (See  Frost-Bites.) 

Chill. — Tljis  term  means  a  shiver,  as  if  the  horse  were  cold. 


—  290  — 

This  is  the  way  many  diseases  and  fevers  are  ushered  in.  If  the 
chill  be  checked  soon,  it  will  stop,  in  njany  cases,  the  disease  that 
was  forming.  For  this  purpose,  give  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture 
of  aconite  root  in  a  wine-glassful  of  water,  and  pour  down  the 
throat,  out  of  a  short- necked  bottle  ;  cover  the  body  with  a  blanket, 
and  rub  the  legs  to  bring  the  circulation  to  the  surface  of  the  body, 
and  all  will  be  well. 

Choking. — Choking  very  rarely  occurs  in  horses  ;  ver}^  fre- 
quently in  cattle.  If  choking  should  occur  in  the  horse,  there  is 
little  chance  or  hope  of  saving  his  life,  if  he  be  a  spirited  animal, 
and  the  substance  be  high  in  the  gullet.  In  a  very  extensive 
practice,  embracing  many  years,  I  have  never  seen  a  case  of  chok- 
ing in  the  horse,  except  on  a  few  occasions,  and  then  it  was  only  a 
ball  of  aloes  sticking  in  the  throat.  If  a  ball  of  any  thickness 
stick  in  its  passage  to  the  stomach,  and  it  have  passed  down  some 
distance,  it  is  called  low  choke,  and  is  not  so  dangerous,  as  if  it 
stick  in  the  entrance  to  the  gullet — high  choke. 

Treatment.  In  low  choke  press  down  with  the  hand  over  the 
substance  in  the  Erullet,  and  trv  to  move  it.  Do  this  not  too 
strongly,  but  continue  it  for  a  time.  If  unsuccessful,  one  pint  of 
fish,  sweet,  or  linseed  oil,  melted  lard,  or  syrup  of  any  kind,  will 
be  apt  to  move  the  substance  on  its  way  down.  If  these  should 
fail,  after  a  good  trial,  then  have  the  gullet  opened  right  over  the 
substance,  and  take  it  out,  and  put  in  one,  two,  or  three  stitches 
with  strong  saddlers'  silk.  Make  the  stitches  separately  from  each 
other ;  for  if  this  be  not  done,  and  one  break,  the  others  will  also 
become  loose. 

In  high  choke,  the  irritation  and  excitement  are  grccit,  which 
prevent  much  being  done  to  relieve  the  animal.  Tr}-  the  oil,  and 
see  what  can  be  done  in  that  way.  The  treatment  is  purely 
mechanical,  so  use  ingenuity  to  overcome  the  difficulty. 

Chorea. — This  is  a  rare  disease  in  the  horse,  but  common  in 
dogs.  It  accompanies  cases  of  madness  in  all  animals,  and  depends 
upon  nervous  excitement,  which  is  seen  in  the  constant  twitch- 
ing of  the  muscles  of  the  body.  It  is  clearly  sympathetic  in  its 
character. 

Treatment.     Removal  of  the  cause,  whatever  that  may  be. 

Cold. — Si/mjjtoms.     Cougli  slight,  fever,  and  discharge  more  or 


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—  291  — 

less  from  one  or  botli  nostrils,  sometimes  of  a  thin,  watery  material, 
or  a  thick,  creamy  pus.  The  lining  membrane  of  the  nose  is  red 
and  inflamed.  Cold  sometimes  even  extends  into  the  throat  and 
lungs,  giving  rise  to  quickened  breathing  and  uneasiness.  When 
it  extends  to  the  stomach,  it  is  called  by  the  French  gastritis  mucosa. 
AVhen  it  spreads  to  the  chest,  it  is  called  bronchitis  (which  see). 
No  disease  is  more  common  than  cold  among  young  horses;  but, 
unfortunately,  it  rarely  runs  its  course  as  such.  Cold  assumes  one 
or  more  of  the  forms  just  mentioned. 

Cause.     Exposure  to  cold  and  stormy  weather. 

Treatment.  In  Germany,  it  is  said,  that  a  cold,  if  let  alone,  will 
get  well  in  a  fortnight,  and  if  treated  by  a  skilful  doctor,  he  will 
cure  it  in  fourteen  days.  However,  give  the  animal  a  few  doses 
of  aconite  (see  Medicines),  to  remove  the  fever,  and,  if  possible,  to 
prevent  complications,  or  its  further  spread  to  tlie  neighboring 
parts.  If  the  appetite  keep  good,  nothing  more  need  be  done ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  breathing  quicken,  and  the  appetite  be 
poor,  and  debility  be  setting  in,  tonics  and  stimulants  will  be 
necessary.  Get  the  following  medicine,  and  give  one  powder, 
morning,  noon,  and  night,  mixed  with  a  little  cold  water,  and  drench 
the  horse  with  it :  Take  powdered  gentian  root,  powdered  pimenta 
berries,  powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia,  of  each  two  ounces. 
Mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders.  When  the  appetite  im- 
proves, give  good  feed,  but  not  by  any  means  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  bring  on  digestion.  Give  green  feed,  if  it  can  be  had.  This 
is  a  most  simple  and  successful  ]dan  of  treating  common  cold. 

Cold  Lotions. — These  are  now  called  refrigerant  lotions.  Ice- 
water  makes  a  good  and  economical  refrigerant,  when  applied  to  a 
sprain.     (See  Prescriptions  and  Medicines.) 

Colic. — (1.)  Spasmodic  Colic. — Symptoms.  All  at  once  the  horse 
that  a  few  moments  ago  was  well,  apparently,  shakes  his  head — 
leaves  his  feed,  looks  round  at  his  flank,  mostly  at  the  right  side, 
as  if  pointing  out  the  seat  of  the  disease,  scrapes  the  ground  with 
his  front  foot,  and  almost  strikes  his  belly  with  one  of  the  hind 
ones.  The  spasm  continuing,  the  horse  breaks  out  into  a  sweat, 
heaving  at  the  flanks;  great  excitement,  kicking  and  rolling; 
intervals  of  ease  from  pain. 

Causes.     Drinking  cold  water  when  heated,  or  colder  water  than 


—  292  — 

commonly  nserl,  as  a  city  liorse  is  used  to  drinking  watei'  which  is 
warmer  in  summer,  and  colder  in  winter,  tlian  water  taken  from  a 
pump;  washing  the  belh'' with  cold  water ;  driving  horses  into  a 
pond  of  cold  water. 

Treatment.  Give  something  to  heat  the  stomach  and  bowels. 
Try  a  bottle  of  warm  ale  or  porter,  adding  a  little  whiskey,  or  a 
teaspoonfiil  of  ground  ginger  to  it.  If  relief  be  not  obtained  in  half 
an  hour  give  a  drench,  composed  of  tincture  of  aconite  root, 
twenty-five  drops ;  spirit  of  turpentine,  one  ounce  ;  one  bottle  of 
cold  ale  or  porter.  If  necessar}'',  give  injections  of  warm  water 
(not  hot),  soap,  and  a  handful  of  table  salt.  Occasionally  M;a//:  the 
horse  about,  to  excite  the  bowels  to  action. 

(2.)  Stercoral  Colic. — Sjjmptoms.  Similar  to  the  above  variety, 
but  continues  longer,  and  is  not  quite  so  severe  or  painful. 

Causes.     Impaction  or  constipation  of  the  bowels. 

Treatment.  Powdered  aloes,  one  ounce ;  tincture  of  aconite  root, 
twenty-five  drops;  chloroform,  half  an  ounce.  Mix  in  a  bottle  of 
ale  or  porter,  and  give  in  a  drench  out  of  a  horn,  or  stout  bottle. 
The  aconite  will  have  to  be  given  every  four  hours,  till  the  pain 
has  given  way.  Encourage  the  operation  of  the  aloes  by  injections 
every  hour. 

(3.)  Flatulent  Colic. — Symptoms.  Pain  is  considerable  at  first, 
which  in  a  few  hours  gives  way  to  sleepiness  (see  Coma).  This  is 
caused  by  distension  of  the  bowels  with  gas,  commonly  called 
wind,  thereb}^  paralyzing  the  ])arvagus  and  nerve  centres,  and 
ultimately  tlie  brain  itself.  This  variety  of  colic  is  readily  distin- 
guished from  the  others  by  the  swelling  of  the  belh^,  particularly 
at  the  flanks,  called  tympanitis,  or  drum-belly. 

Causes.  Indigestion  of  food  in  tlie  stomach  ;  fermentation  is  set 
up.  and  there  is  evolution  (giving  forth)  of  carbonic  acid  gas.  This 
gas  is  not  liberated  per  rectum  from  the  body  as  speedily  as 
generated.  The  horse  and  cow  cannot  belch  or  eruct  wind  from 
their  stomachs  as  man  and  the  dog  can  ;  hence  tha  frequency  of 
t\'mpanitis  in  horses  and  cows. 

Treatment.  Try  injections  first,  as  in  many  cases  I  have  cured 
this  variety  by  this  means  alone.  If  gas  or  wind  come  away  with 
the  injection,  the  case  will  soon  end  well.  When  no  benefit  is  de- 
rived from  the  injections,  give,  in  a  little  cold  water,  aloes  in  pow- 


—  293  — 

der,  one~onnco ;  sulpliuric  other,  one  ounce;  tincture  of  opium, 
two  ounces.  If  these  measures  fail  in  giving  ease  from  j)ain,  pour 
two  ounces  of  cliloroform  on  a  small  moist  sponge,  and.  hold  it  to 
the  nostrils,  not  too  closely,  but  admit  a  portion  of  air  with  the 
fumes  of  the  chloroform  (see  Medicines).  The  sponge  may  be 
])laced  in  a  towel,  and  the  ends  carried  up  around  the  nose  of  the 
horse,  to  save  waste ;  or  place  the  sponge  in  the  bottom  of  a  nose- 
bag, and  put  it  on  the  head,  but  not  too  close  upon  the  nose. 

Last  Remedy.  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  longer  this  disease  is 
unrelieved,  the  more  remote  is  the  chance  of  recovery,  as  the  bowel 
sometimes  contracts  upon  itself,  or  nearly  closes  altogether.  To 
overcome  this  condition  an  operation  is  recommended^which  I  do 
not  say  will  be  a  success,  nor  yet  a  failure.  When  it  failed  in  my 
hands,  it  was  not  because  the  gas  was  not  let  out  of  the  bowels, 
but  because  the  blood  had  becon^^e  so  disintegrated,  and  the  ner- 
vous centres  so  paralyzed  that  the  sanative  powers  of  the  consti- 
tution had  received  too  great  a  shock  to  ever  rally  again. 

T/te  Operation.  Procure  an  instrument  (See  Instruments),  called 
a  trocar.  If  this  be  not  at  hand,  sharpen  a  breakfast  knife,  and 
measure  an  equal  distance  from  the  haunch  bone  and  the  short 
rib,  and  not  too  high  upon  the  back  ;  force  the  knife  into  the  dis- 
tended bowel,  and  turn  the  knife  in  the  wound  thus  made,  and 
hold  it  there  until  all  the  imprisoned  gas  has  escaped  ;  and  as  the 
gas  sometimes  still  accumulates,  keep  the  knife  or  instrument  in 
the  wound,  if  it  be  for  half  a  day.  When  the  knife  or  instrument 
is  taken  out,  place  a  piece  of  sticking  plaster  over  the  wound. 
(See  Medicines.) 

Stones,  or  hair  calculi,  are  often  found,  after  death,  in  the  bowels 
of  horses  subject  to  colic.  I  have  seen  six  taken  from  one  mare 
that  I  had  under  treatment.  Remember,  the  great  principle  in 
the  treatment  of  colic,  in  all  its  forms,  is  to  relieve  pain.  This 
also  holds  good  in  most  diseases  of  horses.  The  doctor,  if  he  fail 
to  allay  pain,  cannot  cure  the  disease. 

Coma. — A  horse  is  said  to  be  in  a  comatose  state  when  in  an 
apoplectic  fit,  in  sleepy  staggers,  and  when  dying  from  spasmodic 
colic  (which  see). 

Congestion  of  the  Lungs. — (See  Lung  Diseases.) 

Constipation. — A  confined  condition  of  the  bowels  accompa- 


—  294  — 

nying  fever,  liver  and  hmc^  diseases.  Horses  hal»ituMlly  costive 
should  be  supplied  with  soft  feed  and  grass  in  season.  Costive- 
ness,  as  a  concomitant  of  fever,  etc.,  should  in  all  cases  be  let 
alone,  as  it  is  a  provision  of  nature  to  protect  herself  from  ex- 
haustion. 

Consumption. —  Causes.  Repeated  attacks  of  influenza,  lunp^ 
fever,  or  bronchitis,  or  any  of  these  diseases  treated  by  bleeding, 
and  other  reducing  remedies  or  agents.  Consumption  in  the  horse 
runs  its  course  in  from  one  to  two  weeks. 

Nature  of  Consumption. — A  wasting,  or  breaking  down  of  the 
structure  of  the  lungs.  The  tuberculous  form  of  consumption  I 
have  never  seen  in  the  horse.  Tubercles  are  seen  in  bad  cases  of 
glanders  (which  see).  These  tubercles  suppurate,  and  discliarge 
pus.  This  pus  is  absorbed  and  taken  into  the  blood,  and  sets  up 
a  ferment,  or  leaven,  as  the  Scriptures  call  it.  This  is  the  great 
trouble  in  consumption  in  man,  and  glanders  in  the  horse.  Why 
authors  have  not  called  this  tuberculous  disease  in  horses,  con- 
sumption, I  do  not  know,  except  it  be,  and  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve it  is,  from  an  entire  ignorance  of  its  true  patholog}-  or 
character. 

Treatment.  Incurable.  To  prolong  the  life,  beef  soup,  iron, 
gentian,  tonics  and  stimulants,  are  indicated.  In  the  tuberculous 
form,  sulphite  of  soda  should  be  given  to  arrest  the  ferment,  and 
keep  the  blood  clear  of  impurities,  in  addition  to  the  remedies  to 
support  the  strength.  (See  Medicines.)  Decay,  _2)H^/•^ac^^o??.,  fer- 
mentation, are  true  and  scientific  expressions,  with  no  vague 
meaning.  Such,  then,  are  the  conditions  embraced  in  the  word 
consumption,  whether  in  men  or  animals. 

Contagion. — This  term  is  applied  to  something  (as  the  virus 
of  Glanders),  coming  in  contact  with  the  body  of  an  animal  in 
health,  producing  a  similar  disease  to  that  existing  in  the  animal 
from  which  it  came.  In  a  word,  it  is  a  specific  poison.  Few  dis- 
eases of  animals  are  considered  contagious.  The  followinsj  diseases 
are,  however,  considered  of  that  character: — Glanders,  in  horses; 
contagious  typhus  and  small  pox,  in  cattle  and  sheep.  Although 
many  animals  may  be  taken  sick  one  after  another,  this  is  no 
proof  that  the  disease  is  contagious  ;  for  it  must  be  remembered 
that  a  number  of  animals,  all  situated  and  cared  for  in  the  same 


—  295  — 

way,  are  certainly  subjected  to  the  same  exciting  causes  that  pro- 
duced the  disease  in  the  first  animal  affected.  Those  that  esca})ed 
the  disease  were  not  predisposed  to  take  it;  hence  their  exemp- 
tion from  its  effects. 

Prevention.  Separate  the  sick  from  the  well.  All  buckets,  or 
otlier  materials,  that  were  in  contact  witli  the  sick,  must  be  thor- 
oughly cleansed  and  purified.     (See  Disinfectants.) 

Contraction. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Convalescence. — A  term  applied  to  the  time  which  elapses 
between  the  controlling  of  acute  disease,  and  the  restoration  of 
the  patient  to  perfect  health. 

Corns. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Coryza  Gangrenosa. — This  name  is  applied  to  an  ulcerated 
condition  of  the  membrane  of  the  nose  supervening  in  a  case  of 
cold.  It  is  evidence  of  general  debility,  and  disintegration  or 
deterioration  of  the  membrane. 

Corrosive  Sublimate. — (See  Medicines  and  Poisons.) 

Cough. — A  symftom  of  disease  of  the  respiratory  organs,  as 
tubercles  of  the  lungs,  thickening  of  the  lining  membranes  of  the 
windpipe,  and  enlargement  of  the  glands  of  the  neck.  I  have 
seen  cough  from  indigestion  in  a  few  cases,  but  this  is  rare  in 
horses. 

Cough,  Chronic. — Causes. — Debility,  or  softening  of  the  par 
vagus  nerves ;  heaves,  or  broken  wind  (which  see),  are  some  of 
the  causes  wliich  produce  acute  cough. 

Treatment.  Removal  of  whatever  is  the  cause  (causa  sublata 
tulitur  effectus). 

Counter-irritants. — An  external  application,  which,  when 
applied,  causes  an  irritation  or  inflammation  counter  or  opposite 
to  that  which  exists  inside. 

Cow  Hock. — This  name  is  applied  to  a  condition  or  malforma- 
tion of  those  hocks  that  incline  forward,  thus  forming  a  fulcrum, 
over  which  the  posterior  straight  ligament  passes — this  condition 
favoring  a  sprain  of  the  ligament,  which  is  called  curb.  (See 
Curb.) 

Cramp. — Cramp  of  the  stomach  or  bowels  of  horses  cannot 
readil}'  be  distinguished  from  spasmodic  colic  (which  see). 

Cramp  of  the  Hind  Leg. — This  affection  is  common  among 


—  296  — 

young  horses  of  an  irritable  temperament.  It  is  often  mistaken 
for  dislocation  of  the  patella,  sometimes  called  luxation  of  the 
petella  (which  see). 

Symptoms.  The  horse  will  persistentl}''  refuse  to  move  the  leg 
from  the  position  in  which  it  is  placed.  Quivering  or  excitement 
of  the  muscles  of  the  thigh,  accompanied  with  irritation  and  fever. 
The  liorse  cannot  be  moved,  as  he  refuses  to  do  so. 

Causes.     Irregularity  of  the  nervous  system. 

Treatment.  Move  tlie  animal,  if  it  be  possible,  and  the  cramp 
will  give  way.  Dashing  cold  water  against  the  thigh  will  often 
remove  it.  The  horse  will  get  well,  if  time  be  only  given  him. 
Thus,  if  a  person  leave  the  stable  to  tell  some  one  of  the  matter, 
he  will  he  surprised,  on  coming  back,  to  find  the  horse  well. 

Crib-Biting. — This  is  not  a  disease,  but  a  vice — a  bad  habit, 
which  the  horse  has  learned,  of  sucking  wind  into  the  stomach  by 
placing  his  lips  against  tiie  manger.  The  habit  has  been  so  strong 
in  some  horses,  that  when  they  could  get  no  place  to  press  the  lips 
against,  they  have  stooped  down  and  placed  the  lips  against  the 
arm  of  their  own  front  leg.  This  vice  is  sometimes  called  wind- 
sucking. 

Causes.  Idleness,  indigestion,  and  learning  it  from  other  animals 
in  the  same  stable. 

Prevention.  Keep  horses  in  loose  boxes,  or  other  places  where 
there  are  no  fixtures  but  the  walls  ;  regular  feed  and  regular  work. 

Treatment.  Do  not  let  the  horse  stand  in  the  stable  twenty 
hours  out  of  the  twenty -four.  Feed  him  regularly,  and  work  him 
as  regularly.  Turn  the  animal  to  pasture,  and  when  he  is  brought 
home  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  have  a  loose  box  prepared  for  him 
without  any  fixtures,  as  manger,  trough,  or  rack.  Place  his  hay 
upon  the  floor,  and  his  oats  or  corn  in  a  small  trough,  and  remove 
it  as  soon  as  the  feed  is  eaten. 

Curb. — Oneof  tlie  many  diseases  of  the  hock -joint,  and  consists 
in  a  swelling  immediately  below  the  point  of  the  hock-joint,  and 
is  the  result  of  sprain  of  the  posterior  straight  ligament;  is  more 
frequent  in  horses  with  the  hocks  inclining  forward  (cow  hoclv). 
The  treatment  best  adapted  is  the  ointment  of  the  red  iodide  of 
mercur}^  (see  Ointments),  which  is  not  onl}^  a  counter-irritant,  but 
a  sorbefacient.     Apply  about  the  size  of  a  hickory-nut  in  quantity 


—  297  — 

every  sixth  day  for  a  few  weeks,  occasionally  greasing  or  oiling 
the  i)arts  to  prevent  the  skin  cracking. 

Curby-Hocked.  —(See  Cow  Hock.) 

Cutaneous  Diseases. — (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Cutting. — (See  Interfering.) 

Death. — The  great  law  of  the  universe  makes  limits  of  duration 
to  every  structure  endued  with  life,  and  prepares  a  way  for  the 
resolution  of  every  material  provided  with  vital  principles  into 
matter  of  the  earth.  The  individual  existence  of  all  organized 
bodies  is  merely  temporary  ;  none  escape  the  necessity  of  per- 
ishing. 

Debility. — This  is  a  condition  accompanying  many  diseases, 
hence  the  necessity  of  guarding  against  any  measure  in  the  treat- 
ment, even  of  a  disease  of  an  exalted  kind  that  will  reduce  the 
strength.  The  animal  thus  affected  rapidh^  becomes  weak  and 
debilitated,  to  such  an  extent  as  may  cost  it  its  life. 

(1.)  Debility,  Simple. — May  be  local,  that  is,  confined  to  a  part, 
as  in  partial  paralysis,  from  the  effects  of  a  blister  applied  to  a 
part,  or  from  a  kick  or  injury. 

Symptoms.  A  thickening  or  swelling  of  the  parts.  The  swelling 
is  not  inflammatory,  but  soft,  and  contains  fluid.     (QSdema.) 

Treatment.  Powdered  sulphate  of  iron,  one  ounce  and  a  half; 
gentian  root,  two  ounces  ;  chlorate  or  nitrate  of  potassa,  one  ounce. 
Mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders,  and  give  one  night  and 
morning  mixed  in  cut  or  soft  feed,  with  no  more  water  in  the  feed 
than  will  keep  the  particles  together.  Feed  the  animal  generously 
and  well.  Debility  and  swelling  of  the  legs  of  liorses  now-a-days, 
at  least  in  this  country,  can  be  produced  by  simply  keeping  a 
portion  of  their  usual  feed  from  them  for  two  or  three  days. 

(2.)  Debility, General. — Symptoms.  Swelling  of  thelegs,  sheath, 
breast,  and  belly.  Disturbed  breathing.  The  horse  is  very  weak, 
nnd  easily  pushed  from  off  his  feet  by  the  hand.  Indeed,  he 
staggers  as  he  walks,  and  sometimes  falls  to  the  ground. 

Causes.  Bleeding  or  giving  })hysic  (a  purge)  in  the  treatment 
of  disease,  especially  in  diseases  of  the  chest.  Starving  and  low 
diet  given  to  a  sick  horse,  when  lie  should  ])e  supported  in  the 
midst  of  his  sickness  by  good  feedimr.  The  very  neglect,  or  want 
of  knowledge  on  this  point,  has  killed  thousands  of  horses  that 


—  298  — 

would  have  lived,  that  have  been  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of 
ignorance,  error,  and  bad  judgment.  Tliis  condition  of  things  in 
relation  to  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  horse,  and  indeed  all 
our  faithful  animals,  ma}^  be  ascribed  largely  to  the  diligence  and 
persistence  of  American  publishers  in  deluging  the  country  with 
reprints  of  old  Englisli  books  that  should  never  have  been  written. 

Treatment.  Give  plent}^  of  good  food  to  the  maltreated  animal, 
and  give  the  following  blood-making  medicines: — Powdered  sul- 
phate of  iron,  three  ounces  ;  gentian  root,  three  ounces.  Mix,  and 
divide  into  twenty-four  powders,  and  give  one  powder  night  and 
morning.  If  tliere  is  mucli  swelling  about  the  body,  add  five 
grains  of  powdered  Spanish  fly  to  the  evening  powder,  for  a  few 
nights  only.  Be  assured  the  animal  is  fully  restored  before  it  is 
put  to  hard  woik. 

Deformities. — In  young  colts  will  often  be  observed  a  deform- 
ity of  one  or  both  fore  legs  from  the  knee  down,  giving  the  whole 
appearance  an  awkward  look.  Farmers  having  such  a  colt  should 
not  think  it  useless,  or  at  all  im})aired  ;  for  in  my  own  extensive 
practice,  I  have  not  seen  one  that  tlid  not  become  as  perfect  as  the 
best  formed  of  animals. 

Observe. — Whether  the  mother  have  sufficient  milk  for  the  colt, 
and  if  not,  teacli  the  colt  to  suck  milk  out  of  a  bottle,  or  from 
something  else;  for  by  good  nourishuient  these  deformed  condi- 
tions of  tlie  leg.s  will  disappear. 

Deuteropathia. — A  disease  of  secondary  character,  or  in  sym- 
pathy with  another.     (See  Fever.) 

Diabetes. — This  is  a  disease  accomimnied  by  a  great  and  fre- 
quent flow  of  urine,  containing  sugar  in  solution. 

Causes.  The  starch,  and  some  constituents  of  the  food  are 
transferred  into  sugar.  The  origin  of  this  affection  is  supposed  to 
be  a  ferment  changing  the  material  of  the  system  into  sugar,  as 
diastase  converts  starch  into  sugar  in  malting. 

Symptoms.  Great  flow  of  clear  urine,  very  great  thirst,  ravenous 
appetite,  weakness  and  general  debility. 

Treatment.  Althougli  this  disease  is  considered  incurable,  I 
have  on  two  occasions  cured  the  animal  by  the  iodide  of  iron,  too 
expensive  a  medicine  to  be  recommended  for  general  use.  The 
action  of  this  medicine,  at  least  the  iodide  portion,  allayed  the 


—  299  — 

thirst,  and  the  iron  supported  the  strength  and  system,  also  acting 
as  an  astringent  (to  dry  up). 

This  medicine  should  be  seconded  by  good  feeding  and  plenty 
of  it.     (See  Iodide  of  Iron  in  Medicine  List.) 

Diaphoretics. — This  term  is  applied  to  medicines  having  the 
power  of  j)roducing  sweating.  The  horse  is  not  easily  acted  upon 
in  this  way  by  the  use  of  medicines,  except  b}^  one  or  two  articles, 
as  aconite  or  veratrum  (which  see).  Slight  moisture  on  the  skin 
is  very  desirable  in  cases  of  fever.  The  cold  water  douche  is  used 
by  hydropaths  for  this  purpose. 

When  sweating  is  desired  for  the  cure  of  disease,  it  must  be 
done  without  increasing  the  heart's  action.  This  is  the  great 
secret  in  producing  diaphoresis. 

Diarrhoea. — (1.)  Simple  Diakuhcea  consists  of  a  looseness,  or 
fluid  condition  of  excrement,  from  something  irritant  in  the 
bowels,  and  which  does  not  freely  pass  away.  When  this  condi- 
tion is  present,  and  no  pain,  gri})ing  or  pawing  as  in  colic,  it  may 
be  well  let  alone. 

(2.)  Continued  Diarrhoea. — This  is  often  the  case  when  irrita- 
tion does  not  pass  awa}^  with  the  offending  matter,  and  the  bowels 
continue  to  discharge  a  thin  fluid.  There  is  slight  pain  or  colic. 
When  this  is  the  case,  suspect  some  irritant  poison.    (See  Poison.) 

Treatment.  From  whatever  cause  the  diarrhoea  may  arise,  treat- 
ment that  will  alki}^  pain  is  demanded.  First.  Give  twenty  to 
twenty -five  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  in  a  little  cold 
w\ater.  Then  give  the  following  powder  every  two  hours,  until  a 
change  for  the  better  has  taken  place  : — Prepared  chalk,  half  an 
ounce;  catechu  in  powder,  one  draelim  ;  opium  in  powder,  ten 
grains.  Allow  the  animel  ])l(^nty  of  water  to  drink,  which  will 
help  to  keep  or  allay  irritation,  or  what  disposition  there  may  be 
to  inflammation.  Bran  mashes  should  be  given  for  a  few  days,  so 
as  to  overcome  the  effects  of  so  much  drying  or  binding  medicine. 
Cake  meal,  or  ground  flaxseed,  will  be  an  excellent  assistant  in 
this  particular. 

Diathesis. — When  we  read  in  medical  books  of  the  word  dia- 
thesis, it  means  a  well-marked  tendency  in  a  disease  by  a  corre- 
sponding diathesis :  for  example,  a  cancerous  diathesis  or  an 
inflammatory  diathesis. 


—  800  — 

Diet. — The  different  articles  used  by  the  liorse  as  food. 

Disinfectants. — French,  Desinfednnts ;  German,  Faulnisswidrige 
Sabstaazen. 

Disinfectants  are  such  as  remove  tlie  causes  of  infection,  or  any 
injurious  taint.  To  accomplish  this  eti'ect,  disinfectants  will  have 
to  embrace  a  class  of  substances  known  by  the  name  of  antisep- 
tics (agents  which  prevent  animal  or  vegetable  matter  being  de- 
composed), and  deodorizers  (agents  which  destroy  hurtful  or  bad 
smells,  when  arising  from  decomposing  material). 

(1.)  Katukal  Disinfectants. — Tlie  atmospheric  is  the  great 
disinfectant.  The  soil  has  been  found  a  valuable  disinfectant,  de- 
composing animal  matter  with  great  quickness,  and  sending  out 
gasses  which  are  without  taint  of  any  kind.  Hence,  the  neces- 
sity of  deep  burial  of  animals  dying,  or  that  have  been  killed,  on 
account  of  contagious  diseases. 

Ventilation  is  entirely  a  mechanical  plan  of  disinfecting,  and 
which  it  is  in  the  power  of  every  farmer  in  the  land  to  more  or 
less  perfect  in  all  buildings  containing  horses,  cattle,  etc.  In  ven- 
tilating, it  is  only  necessar}^  to  admit  the  purest  air,  and  for  this 
purpose  have  the  openings,  or  ventilators,  placed  at  least  eight  to 
ten  feet  from  the  ground,  as  it  is  well  known  that  heavy  vapors 
are  sometimes  seen  a  few  feet  above  the  ground.  Also,  the  ven- 
tilation should  come  from  the  front  or  top  of  the  building,  as  the 
back  of  a  stable  is  never  so  pure  as  its  front. 

Water  is  the  next  great  disinfectant  employed  b}"  nature, 
although  moist  bodies  decay  more  rapidl}^  than  dry.  It  is  a  dis- 
infectant by  the  process  of  washing,  wliich  is  mechanical.  It  is  in 
this  way  that  each  shower  of  rain  becomes  a  natural  disinfectant. 
Light  is  another  disinfectant,  which  seems  to  have  been  overlooked 
by  many,  when  their  barns  and  stables  were  built.  Without  light 
the  rose  would  lose  its  color,  and  man  and  animals  would  lose  and 
never  attain  their  vigor. 

In  proof  of  the  advantage  of  light  in  maintaining  health,  and 
warding  off  disease,  it  is  stated  that  in  a  barrack  at  St.  Petersburg, 
there  was  only  one  case  of  disease  on  the  side  laid  open  to  the 
light,  to  three  on  the  dark  side. 

Heat  and  cold  are  two  agents  highly  useful  as  disinfectants. 
Heat  prevents  fermentation   and  decay  by  drying  and  changing 


—  301  — 

tlie  chemical  state  of  substances,  as  it  were,  by  cooking,  whether 
b_y  fire  or  the  sun.  Cold,  again,  is  the  most  powerful  antiseptic 
nnd  disinfectant.  Frosts  prevent  decay  and  disease,  and  at  the 
same  time  sliare  the  connection  existing  between  them. 

(2.)  Artificial  Disinfectants. — Creosote  is  a  most  powerful 
antiseptic  and  disinfectant,  when  applied  to  a  part,  but  is  not 
easily  managed.  Smoke  is  another  good  antiseptic,  as  it  contains 
a  little  creosote.     By  it  herring  and  other  fish  are  preserved. 

Spices,  and  otlier  aromatic  substances  have  long  been  used  as 
disinfectants,  but  they  possess  no  such  propert}^,  as  they  do  not 
prevent  decomjiosition  of  bodies ;  tliey  merely  cover  tlie  smell. 

Chloride  of  lime  and  chloride  of  zinc  act  as  good  disinfectants. 

The  chloride  of  manganese  is  certainl}^  as  economical  a  disin- 
fectant as  can  be  used  by  tde  farmer.  It  is  cheap  and  efficient, 
and  not  dangerous  like  chloride  of  zinc. 

Sulphurous  acid,  or  rather  its  fumes,  has,  in  all  ages,  been  used 
as  a  disinfectant,  and  by  general  consent  is  considered  to  be  most 
valuable.  Its  action  on  animal  and  vegetable  substances  is  readily 
seen  by  the  change  in  color  produced.  In  the  form  of  sulphite 
of  soda,  it  will  arrest  the  vinous  fermentation  in  cider  and  other 
materials  ;  or  if  injected  into  the  veins  of  dead  animals,  it  em- 
balms them  most  perfectly. 

For  stables  and  houses  filled  wdth  animals  nothing  will  answer 
so  well  as  chloride  of  lime,  or  McDougal's  disinfecting  powders, 
applied  to  the  floors  and  excrement  once  per  day,  with  a  large 
dredging  box. 

For  empty  houses  chloride  of  gas  will  be  found  as  convenient 
and  good  as  any.  For  this  purpose  procure  a  strong  wide- 
mouthed  bottle,  fill  it  about  half  full  of  bin-oxide  of  manganese, 
close  all  the  doors  and  windows,  and  other  open  places,  then  fill 
up  the  bottle  with  the  spirits  of  salts,  and  retire  and  close  the 
door.  This  may  be  repeated  a  few  times  in  the  course  of  a  week. 
The  fumes  that  are  disengaged  will  penetrate  to  ever}^  crevice  and 
corner  in  the  building.  This  operation  any  farmer  can  perform 
himself,  as  there  is  no  risk  whatever.  The  spirits  of  salt  will  have 
to  be  kept  in  a  glass-stoppered  bottle  till  it  is  wanted,  as  it  will  not 
only  eat  a  common  cork,  but  it  will,  by  exposure  to  the  air,  ab- 
stract moisture  from  it,  by  which  it  greatly  loses  its  virtue  and 


—  302  — 

strength.  As  before  stated,  this  plan  of  disinfecting  is  onl}^  to  be 
used  when  the  house  is  empty.  (See  Sulphurous  Acid  Gas  in 
Part  II.) 

Distemper. — (See  Influenza  and  Strangles.) 

Distemper,  Choking. — (See  Typhosus.) 

Diuretics. — A  name  given  to  those  medicines  which  cause  an 
increased  secretion  from  the  kidneys.  Example,  chlorate  and 
nitrate  of  potassa,  the  Spanish  fl}^  and  eupurpurin.  (See  Medi- 
cines.) 

Dropsies. — Everj^  school-boy  is  familiar  with  the  term  drops3% 
wdiich  means  an  unnatural  accumulation  of  water  in  the  cavities 
of  the  body,  chest,  heart-case,  belly,  breast,  sheath,  and  cellular 
tissue  of  the  legs.     (See  Debilit3\) 

1.  When  water  is  in  the  chest  it  is  called  Hydrothorax.  This 
is  the  immediate  cause  of  death,  in  pleurisy  in  the  horse,  and 
pleuro-pneumonia  in  cattle,  the  animal  dying  by  suffocation  or  as- 
phyxia. 

2.  When  in  the  belly,  it  is  called  Ascites. 

3.  When  in  the  cellular  tissue,  and  confined  to  a  portion  onh" 
of  the  body,  as  the  le^r  or  sheath,  it  is  called  Oedema;  but  if  the 
swellings  are  over  different  portions  of  the  body,  it  is  called  Ana- 
sarca. 

4.  When  in  the  heart-case  or  pericardium,  it  is  called  Dropsy 
OF  THE  Heart. 

Causes.  Treatment  of  diseases  b}^  starvation,  or  low  diet,  bleed- 
ing, blistering,  and  physicking.  Injury  to  a  part  will  be  followed 
by  water}'  swellings  in  the  neighboring  parts. 

Treatment.  Blood-making  food  and  medicines  are  imperntivrly 
demanded.  Corn  meal  mixed  with  bran  and  cut  hay.  Grass,  if 
it  can  be  had.  A  bottle  of  strong  beef  tea  or  soup,  given  daily, 
will  be  of  great  use.  Give  the  following  medicine  three  times  a 
day,  either  mixed  in  the  food  or  poured  down  the  mouth  with  a 
bottle:  Powdered  sulphate  of  iron,  one  drachm  ;  powdered  gentian 
root,  two  drachms  ;  Spanish  fly,  two  grains.  Mix.  Friction  over 
the  swelling  will  be  of  use.  Sometimes  it  will  be  necessary  to 
make  slight  incisions  or  cuts  through  the  skin  to  let  out  the  im- 
prisoned fluid.  Do  not  blister  such  swelling,  as  it  is  apt  to  pro- 
duce ragged,  running  sores,  difficult  to  heal,  and  leaving  a  blemish. 


—  303  — 

Water  in  the  chest  is  removed  by  introducing  an  instrument 
(see  Instruments)  called  a  tro-^ar,  but  sornewliat  smaller  than  the 
one  used  for  haven  in  cattle.  Also  it  is  removed  b}^  absorption  and 
by  diuretics  (whicli  see). 

Dysentery. — (See  Diarrhoea.) 

Ear  Diseases. — (1.)  Small  Tumors. — Sometimes  tumors  of 
various  shaj)es  and  sizes  are  seen  in  the  ear  of  the  horse,  producing 
a  kind  of  canker  in  that  organ. 

Symptoms.  Shaking  of  the  head  ;  will  not  let  much  familiarity 
be  made  with  him  ;  running  or  starting  back,  when  the  collar  or 
bridle  is  being  taken  up  over  the  ears. 

Causes.  Irritation  and  inflammation  of  the  skin  of  the  ear, 
producing  small  pimples  of  proud  flesh. 

Treatment.  Removal  with  the  knife,  scissors,  or  caustic;  then 
apply  the  simple  ointment  as  for  a  simple  sore.  (See  Prescription 
in  Medicine  List.) 

(2.)  Injuries  of  the  Ear. — Injuries  to  the  ear  take  place  from 
the  use  of  the  whip,  the  bite  of  a  dog,  or  from  another  horse 
biting  it. 

Treatment.  Treat  as  for  a  common  sore,  by  simple  ointment  and 
by  cleanliness. 

(3.)  Deafness. — Not  often  observed  in  horses. 

(4.)  Foreign  Substances  in  the  Ear. — Remove  them  by  the 
forceps. 

(5.)  Abscess  in  the  Eau. —  Treatment  as  for  Abscess  (which  see). 

(6.)  Dry  Gangrene  in  the  Ear. — Two  cases  of  this  affection 
have  been  brought  to  my  notice,  in  which  the  concha  of  the  ear 
had  dried  up,  withered,  and  dro]~)ped  off. 

Ecchymosis. — Black  spots  observed  on  the  lungs  of  cattle  and 
horses  having  died  from  ]^leuro-pneumonia. 

Eczema. — (See  Mange.) 

Elephantiasis. — A  name  applied  to  a  swelled  leg.  (See 
Grease.) 

Embrocation. — A  term  applied  to  liniments.  (See  Prescrip- 
tions.) 

Emetics. — Medicine,  often  taken  into  the  stomach  of  man  and 
some  animals,  causing  them  to  vomit.     Tlie  horse,  ox,  and  sheep 


—  304  — 

do  not,  or  rather,  cannot  vomit.  Hence,  tnriar  emetic  has  no  effect 
upon  them. 

Emphysema. — This  is  a  name  signifying  wind-swelHng,  caused 
by  the  escape  of  air  into  the  celluhir  tissue,  as  between  the  skin 
and  the  flesh,  or  rat^^.er  the  fascia  and  the  skin.  Pressure  with  the 
hand  on  these  windy  swellings  causes  a  crackling  noise  or  sound. 
This  condition  sometimes  arises  in  the  chest,  and  is  attended  witli 
difficult  breathing  and  anxiet}^  of  countenance. 

Causes.  Wounds  in  tlie  chest,  and  wdien  underneath  the  skin,  it 
is  caused  by  undue  pressure  on  the  part,  causing  a  separation  of 
the  skin  from  the  fascia. 

Treatment.  This  consists  in  evacuating  the  air  by  slight  punc- 
tures on  the  surface  of  the  swelling,  assisted  by  gentle  jiressure  of 
the  hand. 

When  in  the  lungs,  give  good  feeding,  and  occasionally  small 
doses  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root,  say  10  drops,  three  times  in 
the  day,  to  relieve  the  breathing,  until  the  lungs  heal  up. 

Encysted  Tumors. — (See  Tumors.) 

Encephaloid. — (See  Tumors.) 

Endermic. — A  plan  of  treating  disease  b}"  placing  the  medicine 
in  contact  with  or  under  the  skin.  Morphia  and  strychnia  are 
the  agents  in  common  use  in  this  form  of  administration.  (See 
T3'])hosus.) 

Enema. — ^See  Injection.) 

Ephemeral. — A  fever  which  runs  its  course  in  twelve  to  forty- 
eight  hours. 

Epidemic. — This  term  is  applied  to  diseases  of  animals,  but 
improperly,  as  the  term  is  exclusively  a  name  that  should  only  be 
used  for  diseases  when  man  is  the  suinect.  Epi,  upon,  and  demo^ 
the  people — a  disease  upon  the  people.  Epizootic  is  the  proper 
name  for  animal  diseases.  Epi,  upon,  zoon,  an  animal — diseases 
upon  animals. 

Epizootic. — A  disease  that  attacks  many  animals  at  the  same 
time  and  season,  originating  in  one  common  cause.  Examples — 
epizootic-influenza  in  the  horse,  and  pleuro-pneumonia  in  cattle. 

Epilepsy. — An  epileptic  horse  should  never  be  used  for  family 
driving.     (See  Megrims.) 

Epiphora. — Weeping  from  the  Eye.     (See  Eye  Diseases.) 


—  30o  — 

Epsom  Salts. — (See  Medicines.) 

Eruptions. — Eruptions  are  more  a  symptom  tlian  a  disease. 
(See  Strangles,  Surfeit,  Stings  of  Insects,  and  Scarlatina.) 

Erysipelas. — This,  as  an  independent  disease,  is  not  often,  if 
at  all,  seen  in  horses.  It  is  often  present  after  accidents,  as  a 
bruise  or  a  broken  bone. 

Symptoms.  A  hard,  tense  and  painful  swelling  of  the  parts, 
accompanied  with  irritation  and  excitement  through  the  entire 
S3^stem. 

Treatment.  Give  twenty  to  twenty- five  drops  of  the  tincture  of 
aconite  root  four  times  in  the  day,  to  calm  the  system.  Apply 
cold  iced  water,  with  woollen  cloths,  to  the  part.  If  from  broken 
bones,  try  and  remove,  or  adjust  them  in  position  to  one  another, 
and  secure  them  so  with  splint  and  bandage.  In  severe  cases  of 
broken  bones  tlie  animal  had  better  be  killed.    (See  Fractures.) 

Exostosis. — (See  Splint  and  Bony  Tumors.) 

Eyes,  Diseases  of  the. — Before  referring  to  the  diseases  of 
this  organ,  it  may  be  necessary  to  say  a  few  words  as  to  the  struc- 
ture of  the  eye. 

(1.)  The  e\'elids  are  composed  of  skin,  and  under  it  the  fibres  of 
a  circular  muscle  which  close  the  eyelids.  The  eyelids  are  lined 
internalh'  with  a  mucous  membrane  called  the  conjunctiva,  which 
is  reflected  from  them  over  the  anterior  surface  of  the  eyeball. 

(2.)  The  globe  of  the  eye  is  not  exactly  round,  for  it  is  more 
like  a  segment  of  a  smaller  circle  put  into  a  greater  one. 

(3.)  The  clear  portion  of  the  eye  is  called  the  cornea,  and  forms 
a  portion  of  the  globe. 

(4.)  The  sclerotic  coat  is  what  is  called  the  white  of  the  eye; 
and  just  back  of  it  is  what  is  called  the  choroid  coat  of  the  eye. 
And  immediately  within  this  choroid  coat  is  placed  the  retina,  or 
the  expansion  of  the  optic  nerve,  or  the  nerve  of  sight. 

(5.)  The  humors  of  the  eye  occupy  the  anterior  chamber,  as 
well  as  pass  into  the  posterior.  The  iris  floats  in  this  humor,  and 
behind  it  will  be  found  the  magnifying  lens  of  the  eye.  This  is  a 
double  convex,  and  is  placed  in  the  centre  of  vision,  and  fronting 
the  next,  or  vitreous  humor  of  the  eye.  This  humor  is  enclosed 
in  a  capsule,  called  the  hyaloid  membrane.  The  eyes  of  the  horse 
are  so  placed  in  his  head,  that  he,  at  the  same  time  sees  different 
20 


—  306  — 

objects  with  each  eye,  which  pecuHarity  accounts  for  the  shying 
and  starting,  when  one  eye  is  imperfect  or  diseased.  If  one  eye 
onh^  be  aUogether  destroyed,  the  horse  will  not  sliy  or  start,  hut 
will  be  a  useful  animal.  This  is  the  reasuii  why  cataract  on  the 
eye  of  a  horse  had  better  be  let  alone,  as  any  im})erfect  sight  will 
make  the  horse  dangerous  to  drive,  objects  being  seen  in  a  dis- 
torted form.  Better  the  eye  to  be  completely  destroyed  than  par- 
tially so. 

(1.)  Amaurosis. — This  is  the  same  disease  that  Milton  was 
affected  with,  and  was  called  by  him  "  drop  serene."  It  is  a  com- 
plete  or  partial  blindness  from  loss  of  sensation,  or  feeling  of  the 
02:)tic  nerve. 

Symptoms.  This  is  the  most  serious  disease  affecting  the  eye  of 
either  man  or  horse,  and  is  ushered  in  by  weeping  and  partial 
closure  of  the  eyelids.  A  thin  film  or  scum  will  soon  be  observed 
to  spread  over  the  whole  of  the  front  of  the  eye.  This  condition 
will  pass  off  for  a  week  or  two,  and  then  return  with  increased 
violence  until  the  sight  will  be  entirel}^  destroyed.  Spots  will  be 
seen  between  each  attack,  deep  in  the  eye,  gradually  increasing  in 
size,  till  the  nerve  of  siglit  is  totalh^  destroyed. 

Causes.  Inflammation  affecting  the  brain,  tumors,  or  bone  press- 
ing upon  the  optic  nerve. 

Treatment.  Doubtful  of  cure.  Small  doses  oi  strychnine  may  be 
tried  to  restore  the  sensibilit}^  of  the  optic  nerve,  or  colchicum  may 
be  used.     (See  Medicine.) 

Observe.  There  are  many  horses  with  extremely  flat  foreheads, 
the  bones  seemingh^  pressing  upon  the  lower  portion  of  the  brain, 
just  where  the  optic  nerve  is  given  out  to  the  e^^es.  These  flat- 
headed  (that  is  in  front  of  the  head)  horses,  I  have  observed  to  go 
blind  about  the  seventh  year  of  their  age.  Blindness  arising  from 
such  a  cause,  may  justly  be  laid  at  the  door  of  hereditar}^  causes. 
Breeding  from  blind  mares  should,  therefore,  be,  as  a  rule,  avoided. 
If  a  mare  from  accident  becomes  blind,  there  are  no  scientific 
reasons  why  she  should  not  be  used  for  breeding  purposes.  What 
is  to  be  observed  is,  not  to  breed  from  a  mare  that  has  a  very  flat 
forehead  and  has  not  gone  blind  from  accident  or  injury  to  the  e3'e. 

(2.)  Floating  Spots  in  the  Eye. — Sometimes  dark  cloudy  spots 
or  specks  will  be  seen  floating  in  the  eye,  more  or  less  movable, 


—  307  — 

rising  and  falling,  as  the  eye  itself  moves.  If  the}^  are  unattended 
with  weakness  of  the  eye  or  the  spots  are  not  fixed,  and  dark,  in- 
dicating the  commencement  of  the  disease  named  above,  they  will 
be  no  great  injury. 

Causes.  Some  constitutional  disturbance,  over-driving,  or  hard 
work. 

Treatment.     Inject,  or  apply  cold  water  several  times  in  the  day, 

(3.)  Iritis. — Inflammation  of  the  iris. 

Causes.  Cold  and  exposure,  producing  rheumatism  in  that  jDor- 
tion  of  the  eye. 

Symj^toms.  Redness  of  the  eye,  and  muddy  color  of  the  cornea. 
The  iris  is  a  little  changed  in  color. 

Treatment.  The  appjlication  of  moist  poultices  to  the  eye  for  a 
few  days  to  allay  inflammation,  or  irritation.  Then  apply  three 
times  daily,  with  a  small  brush  called  a  camel's  hair  pencil,  the 
following  mixture:  nitrate  of  silver,  twelve  grains;  rainwater, 
four  ounces.  The  brush  to  be  dipped  in  the  mixture,  and  drawn 
lightly  across  within  the  eye.  Keep  the  horse  from  the  light  as 
much  as  possible. 

(4.)  Inflammation  of  the  Sclerotic  Coat. 

Symptoras.     The  coat  is  of  a  pink-red  color. 

Cause.  Rheumatism. 

Treatment.  A  teaspoonful  of  the  wine  of  colchicum  root,  four 
times  in  the  day ;  comfortable  stabling  and  generous  feeding. 

Half-drachm  doses  of  the  iodide  of  potassium  may  be  tried  in  this 
case.  Half-ounce  doses  of  sesquicarbonate  of  soda,  occasionally, 
will  be  of  service. 

(o.)  Polypi.  Small  excrescences  are  sometimes  seen  to  arise  from 
the  iris,  but  require  no  treatment,  as  they  will  pass  away  of  them- 
selves. 

(6.)  Spots  and  Ulceration  of  the  Cornea. 

Symjjtoms.  Blood  vessels  tinged  with  blood;  small,  elevated 
spots,  which  are  sometimes  ulcers,  and  at  other  times  small  ab- 
scesses, owing  to  the  abscesses  being  whole  or  broken. 

Treatment.  Take  belladonna,  half  a  drachm  ;  cold  water,  six 
ounces.  Mix,  and  apply  to  the  parts  with  a  camel's  hair  pencil 
dipped  in  the  mixture.  Scarify  or  open  the  angular  veins  of  the 
eye,  and  foment  with  warm  water,  to  insure  a  good  flow  of  blood. 


—  308  — 

This  treatment  should  be  followed  by  a  lotion  of  the  nitrate  of 
silver,  or  of  blue  stone— suljDhate  of  copper  (see  Medicines),  to 
destroy  the  ulcers  inside  the  eyelids;  then  apply  the  belladonna 
lotion  as  before.  It  will  require  repeated  applications  alternately 
to  effect  a  complete  cure.  It  will  be  advisable  to  feed  the  horse 
^vell,  to  increase  absorption  of  effused  fluids  and  thickenings. 
Iron  and  gentian  will  be  useful.  (See  Medicines  and  Prescrip- 
tions.) 

(7.)  Weeping  from  the  Eye. — This  is  more  properly  a  s^-mp- 

tom  than  a  disease — a  swelling  of  the  coTuncula  lachrymalis — a 
small,  round  body. 

Treatment.  Touch  the  swelling  with  a  camel's  hair  pencil 
dipped  in  the  lotion  of  blue  stone,  or  nitrate  of  silver.  Four 
grains  to  an  ounce  of  rain  water,  will  be  strong  enough  for  this 
purpose.  This  treatment  will  cure  tho  weeping,  provided  the 
tear-duct  be  open. 

(8.)  Closing  of  the  Eyelids. —  Treatment.  Apply  warm  water 
with  a  sponge  for  a  period  sufficiently  long,  so  as  to  dissolve  or 
dilute  the  mucus,  wiiich  causes  the  lids  to  stick  together.  To 
prevent  a  recurrence  during  some  diseases  of  the  eyes,  smear  the 
lids  with  sweet  oil,  or  cold  cream,  every  night  while  the  disease 
lasts. 

(9.)  Hair  Growing  in  the  Eye. — Scientifically,  this  is  called 
Trichiasis.  The  removal  of  the  hair  by  tweezers,  or  forceps,  and 
the  application  of  some  eye-wash  to  remove  the  irritation,  are  the 
proper  means  to  be  emploN^ed. 

(10.)  Swelling  of  the  Eyelids. — This  is  sometimes  observed 
in  bad  cases  of  mange  (which  see). 

(11.)  Simple  Ophthalmia,  or  Catarrhal  Ophthalmia. — Symp 
tonu.  A  thick,  mucous  discharge  from  the  eye,  accompanyin  ; 
cases  of  cold  or  catarrh,  redness  and  swelling  of  the  membrare 
lining  the  inside  of  the  eyelids.  This  condition  and  appearan:;e 
resemble  the  lining  of  the  nose  in  cases  of  cold.  This  affect'on 
may,  with  propriety,  be  called  muco-purulent  o})hthalmia,  ard  it 
is  not  unlike  the  E<:3'ptian  0})htliahnia  of  man,  produced  b/  the 
introduction  of  the  flying  sands  of  the  Arabian  desert.  Op.ithal- 
mia  may  be  simple  or  acute;  consequently,  the  treatment  will  be 
accordinglv. 


—  309  — 

Treatment.  The  application  of  cold  water;  or  if  the  cold  seem 
to  give  pain,  warm  water  should  he  used  instead.  Open  the  an- 
gular veins.  This  is  done  as  iollows  :  Take  a  sharp  knife,  and 
simi)ly  cut  the  skin  and  the  veins  which  are  seen  underneath  at 
tlie  lower  corner  of  the  eye,  and  bathe  with  warm  water,  whicli 
will  induce  them  to  bleed  freel3\  Give  grass,  or  some  other  open- 
ing and,  cool  feed.  Give,  also,  half-ounce  doses  of  sulphite  of  soda 
daily  for  a  few  days.  The  nitrate  of  silver  lotion,  or  the  blue 
stone,  will  do  ;  it  is  cheap  and  easily  procured,  and  therefore 
better  adapted  for  the  farmer  or  stable  man.  Apply  as  elsewhere 
recommended.  Never  use  sugar  of  lead  lotions  as  an  eye-wash 
to  the  eye,  which  books  so  often  recommend.  They  are  positively 
injurious  to  the  eye  by  their  ])roducing  dulness,  or  opacity  of  the 
cornea — or  the  clear,  transparent  part  of  the  eye — the  very  bright- 
ness of  which  indicates  health,  beauty  and  intelligence  in  a  horse; 
so,  once  for  all,  I  sa}',  use  no  Goulard's  solution  of  lead.  Copper 
is  infinitely  better,  and  never  leaves  dimness  of  the  eye  or  vision. 
If  copper  be  not  at  hand,  chloride  of  zinc,  one  grain,  to  an  ounce 
of  rain  or  distilled  water,  is  an  excellent  application  to  the  eye  of 
a  horse  suffering  from  purulent  ophthalmia.  (See  ]\Iedicines  and 
Prescriptions.) 

(12.)  Moon  Blindness,  terminating  in  Cataract. — This  dis- 
ease is  a  serious  one,  and  frequent,  consisting  of  inflammation  of 
the  internal  parts  of  the  eyeball,  the  choroid  coat  and  the  iris 
more  particularly. 

Symptoms.  In  the  morning,  perhaps,  the  eyelids  will  be  found 
closed  ;  a  large  flow  of  tears  ;  the  back  portion  of  the  eye  dim 
and  clouded.  No  specks  are  to  be  seen,  as  in  some  other  diseases 
of  the  eye.  A  yellow  border  will  be  observed  at  the  bottom  of 
the  chamber.  This  is  pus.  The  attack,  or  inflammation,  will 
last  from  two  to  three  weeks;  at  the  end  of  which  time  the 
eye  will  brighten  up,  and  the  ordinary  observer  may  think 
that  the  eye  is  completely  cured.  The  pus  is  entirely  ab- 
sorbed, scarcely  leaving  any  traces  behind,  except  a  degree  of 
dinmess.  In  one,  two  or  three  months,  and  not  l)y  the  regularity 
of  the  moon's  changes,  as  horsemen  suppose,  the  disease  reap- 
pears, having  the  same  symptoms  and  characteristics  as  in  the 
first  attack,  only  a  greater  deposit  of  pus  will  be  left  at  each  sub- 


—  310  — 

sequent  attack.  One  attack  succeeds  another  until  the  wliole 
pupil  is  filled  with  matter,  constituting  cataract,  thus  completely 
destroying  the  eyesight.  This  disease  is  usually  at  first  confined 
to  one  eye,  but  in  some  cases  both  are  afifected,  one  usually  more 
severely  than  the  other. 

Treatment.  This  disease  is  deemed  incurable,  which  fact  has 
often  induced  the  owner  of  an  animal  thus  affected  to  sell  him, 
being  well  aware  that  the  disease  will  at  no  distant  day  return, 
and  leave  upon  his  hands  a  blind  horse.  An  ap})lication  of  cold 
water  and  the  tincture  of  opium  should  be  used  to  allay  pain  and 
irritation  ;  cold  ^vater,  one  ounce  ;  tincture  of  opium,  two  drachms  ; 
to  be  applied  by  means  of  a  camel's  hair  pencil. 

Observe.  When  one  eye  of  a  liorse  is  affected  with  this  disease, 
the  other  will  also  ultimately  become  affected.  To  prevent  this, 
it  has  been  advised,  as  is  done  in  man,  to  liave  tlie,  diseased  eye 
entirely  extirpated.  In  horses,  I  would  rather  puncture  the  cornea 
with  a  lancet,  and  allow  the  watery  humor  to  escape,  thus  permit- 
ting the  diseased  eye  to  sink  in  the  head.  This  being  done  suc- 
cessfully, the  remaining  e^^e  will  not  only  retain,  but  will  increase 
in  lustre  and  brightness. 

False  Quarter. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Farcy. — The  reader  will  be  not  a  little  surprised  at  the  opinions 
that  are  advanced  by  me  in  regard  to  this  disease,  especially  if  he 
be  a  reader  of  the  books  on  the  diseases  of  horses.  In  these  books 
we  are  distinctly  told  that  farcy  is  a  variety  of  glanders,  and  that 
farcy  buds  are  of  the  same  nature  as  the  ulcers  of  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  nose  in  cases  of  glanders.  This  may  or  may  not  be 
true.  But  why  not  have  given  the  reasons  why  these  relations 
were  so  sustained  to  each  other?  Thus  assertion  is  put  for  fact, 
and  ignorance  for  great  knowledge.  Farcy  is  not  a  disease  attack- 
ing the  absorbent  vessels,  nor  glanders  of  the  lining  membranes 
of  the  nose.  Farcy,  we  are  again  told,  is  curable,  and  in  the  very 
next  sentence  that  glanders  is  incurable.  Wh}^  this  peculiarity? 
For  if  the  diseases  i^e  the  same,  they  should  be  equally  susceptible 
of  cure.  From  all  that  has  been  said  and  written  on  the  subject 
of  farcy  and  glanders,  nothing  satisfactory  has  been  gained,  but 
much  that  is  calculated  to  perplex.  Farcy  is  the  "  scrofula  "  of 
the  horse.     It  is  unknown   in  countries  and  climes  where  this 


—  311  — 

lisease  in  man  is  never  seen,  and  a  disease  inseparable  from  the 
present  manner  of  domestication.  In  a  word,  the  disease  called 
I'^rcy  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  effects  of  a  class  of  patho- 
lyens  called  ferments,  leavens,  or  zumins,  acting  and  producing  fer- 
mentation in  the  blood.  (See  Glanders.)  In  medicines  zumins 
are  used,  such  as  yeast,  rennet,  pepsin,  and  cow-pox  matter. 
Among  the  various  diseases  of  the  horse,  produced  by  ferments, 
are  glanders,  farcy,  purpura,  grease,  and  several  eruptions  of  the 
skin  and  legs.  This  is  readily  explained.  For  instance,  if  the 
liver,  kidneys,  skin,  and  bowels  of  a  horse  be  not  acting  right,  how 
is  effete  matter  to  be  eliminated  or  carried  from  the  blood  or  the 
body  of  the  animal  ?  This  effete  matter,  as  a  small  piece  of  mem- 
brane, dead  bone  or  pus,  not  escaping  by  the'  usual  channels,  will 
decay  and  become  an  active  ferment  in  the  blood  and  in  the  fluids 
of  the  body.  This,  then,  is  the  only  true  explanation  of  the  phe- 
nomena of  farcy  in  the  horse. 

Symj)toms.  An  unhealthy  coat ;  bad  habit  of  body  ;  one  leg, 
usually  the  fore  leg,  will  swell  to  a  very  large  size — hot  and  pain- 
ful, and  in  a  day  or  two  it  will  break  out  in  small,  running  ulcers, 
or  sores,  discharging  a  sanious  fluid,  sometimes  of  a  thick  and 
resinous  color.  On  the  inside  of  the  leg,  or  on  the  side  of  the  body 
or  on  the  neck,  will  be  seen  a  thick,  corded,  and  elevated  sub- 
stance under  the  skin,  of  considerable  hardness,  and  interrupted 
at  distances  with  a  small  sore  similar  to  that  on  the  leg.  In  some 
cases — not  in  every  case — circumscribed  and  soft,  puffy  swellings 
will  be  seen  about  the  mouth,  lips,  and  indeed  on  many  parts  of 
the  body.  These  swellings  are  not  to  be  confounded  with  swell- 
ing of  the  legs,  belly,  breast,  sheath,  etc.,  in  cases  of  weakness  or 
debility.  These  swellings  have  been  named  water  farcy  by  some 
people,  but  have  no  connection  with  true  or  malignant  farcy  what- 
ever, and  are  not  in  any  way  infectious  or  contagious.  After  some 
alterations  and  changes  occupying  a  few  weeks,  the  animal  be- 
comes much  changed  for  the  worse,  the  blood  becoming  so  dete- 
riorated and  changed  in  character  that  the  animal's  vitality  soon 
gives  way,  and  the  horse  dies  a  miserable  ol)ject. 

Causes.  Overcrowding  horses  in  small  and  insignificant  houses, 
with  little  or  no  ventilation,  each  animal  repeatedly  breathing  the 
noxious  or  waste  material  from  the  lungs  of  his  companions,  thus 


—  312  — 

introducing  into  the  blood  a  powerful  pathogen  in  the  form  of  a 
ferment;  inoculation  from  the  virus  of  glandered  or  farcied  horses, 
the  inoculation  producing  a  ferment ;  debility,  ending  in  changing 
the  character  of  the  blood.  Absorption  of  pus  from  sores  or 
ulcers  into  the  blood  is  another  powerful  ferment,  and  ends  either 
in  farcy,  glanders,  or  some  other  zymotic  disease. 

Treatment.  Having  fully  and  sufficiently  explained  the  cause 
of  this  disease,  the  treatment  is  almost  already  pointed  out, 
namely,  remove  the  cause,  and  the  effects  will  cease.  For  this 
purpose  give  the  following  substance  twice  a  day,  a  tablespoonful 
to  a  dose :  Sulph^te  (not  sulphate)  of  soda.  This  new  chemical 
salt  will  purify  the  blood,  as  its  action  destroys  fermentation, 
whether  in  a  barrel  of  wine,  cider,  or  in  the  blood  of  a  horse. 
Continuing  this  till  the  horse  is  well,  and  for  a  few  weeks  after- 
wards, two  or  three  times  a  week,  will  be  of  good  service.  (See 
Sulphite  of  Soda.)  While  the  blood  is  thus  being  purified  and 
made  fit  once  more  for  the  purposes  of  life,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
add  something  to  it  also,  thus  assisting  the  powers  of  the  consti- 
tution to  overcome  the  difficulty.  We  will  not  only  add  to  the 
blood,  but  give  something  to  facilitate  the  removal  of  the  effete 
matter  from  the  body,  without  weakening  the  animal  with  debil- 
itating diuretics.  For  this  purpose,  the  following  medicine  will 
be  given  :  Powdered  sulphate  of  copper,  three  ounces  ;  powdered 
Spanish  fly,  one  drachm  ;  powdered  gentian  root,  four  ounces. 
]\[ix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders,  and  give  one  powder  at 
night  in  some  good  feed,  with  no  more  cold  water  in  it  than  will 
keep  the  particles  of  the  feed  together.  These  powders  will  do  for 
two  weeks;  at  the  end  of  tliat  time  get  more,  and  continue  them 
till  the  horse  is  well.  In  addition  to  what  has  been  recommended, 
give  grass,  and  good  and  generous  feed,  for  by  these  means  the 
power  and  strength  of  the  body  will  be  kept  up,  and  a  cure  will  be 
more  surely  and  speedih^  effected. 

While  this  treatment  is  going  on,  the  horse  will  have  to  be  re- 
moved to  a  place  by  himself,  or  from  healthy  animals.  Keep  all 
articles  used  in  feeding,  clothing  and  cleansing  him,  in  the  build- 
ing with  him.  Remember,  this  is  considered  one  of  the  contagious 
diseases  of  the  horse.  Not  only  the  safety  of  5^our  own,  but  of 
your  neighbor's  horse,  depends  upon  your  observance  of  these 


—  sis- 
directions.  In  case  you  should  place  a  horse  so  affected,  either  in 
a  field  next  to  your  neighbor,  or  in  his  stable,  and  his  horses  be- 
conae  affected,  you  will  be  liable  to  a  suit  at  law  for  damages  aris- 
ing therefrom.  From  my  experience  in  horse  causes  in  the  courts 
of  Philadelphia,  it  will  be  easier  to  bring  a  suit  than  to  gain  it,  if 
there  be  scientific  witnesses  on  the  stand,  as  the  question  will 
arise.  Was  the  disease,  or  was  it  not,  communicated  from  the  sick 
horse  so  placed  ?  Obviously,  these  are  questions  more  easily  asked 
than  answered. 

Fatty  Tumor. — (See  Tumors.) 

Farrier. — Properly,  this  title  belongs  to  the  blacksmith,  whether 
a  horse  shoer,  or  of  other  branches  of  iron  -working,  faher  ferrarius  ; 
but  from  some  idea  or  other,  we  hear  of  persons,  otherwise  well 
informed,  saying,  when  speaking  of  accident  or  sickness  to  horses, 
to  have  or  send  for  a  farrier.  Now,  what  is  there  possessed  by 
workers  in  iron,  that  they  should  know  any  more  about  diseases 
and  their  treatment  than  is  possessed  by  a  worker  in  wood  ?  Per- 
sons of  education  should  look  into  the  etymology  of  a  term,  even 
if  it  should  be  used  by  the  mass  of  the  people:  for  it  is  by  the 
language  and  general  deportment,  that  a  man  of  education  is 
known  from  his  less  learned  prototype. 

Fever,  Putrid. — (See  Typhosus.) 

Fever,  Sympathetic. — This  variety  of  fever  is  that  which  is 
produced  by  accident  and  disease.  Thus,  a  horse  gets  a  nail  in 
the  sensitive  part  of  the  foot,  excitement,  or  sympathetic  fever  is 
an  accompaniment.  Lung  disease  is  accompanied  with  fever,  and 
hence  it  is  called  lung  fever.  Fever  in  the  feet  is  a  common  ex- 
pression, signifying  sympathetic  fever.  Indeed,  it  is  a  question  in 
my  mind,  whether  fevers  of  all  kinds  are  not  to  be  attributed  to 
some  local  or  general  disturbance  of  some  action  or  function  of 
the  body.  Thus,  the  many  fevers  which  attack  the  human  family 
can  readily  be  traced  to  a  predisposing  cause ;  as,  for  example, 
typhus  fever  is  caused  by  insufficient  ventilation,  besieged  towns 
and  garrisons,  preventing  the  removal  of  ezuvia. 

Fever  in  the  Feet. — This  is  a  common  disease  of  horses  in 
large  towns  and  cities,  where  the  streets  are  paved  with  stone  or 
iron,  whereby  the  concussion  is  very  great,  when  horses  are  driven 
fast.     (See  Founder.) 


—  314  — 

Fibroma. — A  variety  of  Tumor.     (See  Tumors.) 

Firing  Horses. — This  is  an  operation  which  is  a  great  favorite, 
and  in  much  repute  amono;  horse  doctors.  For  my  part,  I  think 
it  is  not  only  cruel  and  barbarous,  but  unnecessary,  doing  no  good 
whatever,  and  in  many  cases  a  positive  injury,  the  efifects  of  which 
will  never  disappear  from  the  legs  or  body  while  the  animal  lives. 
Firing  is  intended  by  its  advocates  to  prevent  and  cure  spavin, 
curbs,  sprains,  and  ring  bones,  by  scoring  the  parts  with  a  red  hot 
iron  in  lines  over  the  part  that  is  thought  will  he  diseased,  or  is 
already  so. 

Fistula. — Examjyles.  Fistula  of  the  shoulder,  of  the  poll,  poll- 
evil  (which  see),  and  quittor  or  sinuses  of  the  foot  (which  see). 
Fistulas  are  usually  deep-seated,  but  sometimes  they  are  super- 
ficial, or  just  under  the  skin.  However,  although  we  see  them 
sometimes  so  situated,  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  cases  are  ex- 
tremely rare.  The  fistula  most  frequent  and  difficult  of  cure  is 
always  deep-seated  and  in  the  vicinity  of  a  joint,  as  the  poll  and 
shoulder.  The  reason  of  this  is  easy  of  explanation,  for  when 
these  parts  get  injured,  and  suppurative  action  is  set  up,  the  pus, 
instead  of  pointing  to  the  outward  surface,  burrows  down  in 
among  the  loose  textures,  and  forms  sinuses  or  pipes,  pointing  in 
several  directions.  Fistula  differs  from  a  simple  abscess  in  this 
particular,  and  therefore  is  difficult  of  cure.  The  pus  secreted  is 
nearly  the  same.  The  pus  in  a  simple  abscess  is  secreted  from, 
and  is  a  liquification  of,  the  surrounding  tissue ;  but  the  pus  of 
fistula  is  secreted  from  the  walls  of  a  fibrous  sack,  which  is  formed 
in  most  cases  of  fistula.  The  fistula  may  be  open  or  whole,  pre- 
senting a  large  swelling. 

Symptoms.  Pain  on  pressure  of  the  parts  affected,  followed  by 
heat,  pain,  and  swelling,  circumscribed  in  shape,  hard  at  first,  and 
becoming  soft  and  fluctuating  upon  pressure  by  the  finger — a  sure 
indication  of  fluid  within.  This  swelling,  from  the  firmness  and 
integrity  of  the  sack  and  skin  in  which  it  is  enclosed,  does  not 
break,  nor  yet  form  sinuses  that  take  on  the  character  of  an  en- 
cysted tumor,  which  does  not  break  of  its  own  accord,  as  simple 
abscesses  do.  At  otlier  times  tlie  fistulous  tumor  breaks  or  opens  in 
several  places,  and  small  holes  discharge  pus,  some  to-day  and 
none  to-morrow.     The   day  the  discharge  is  free,  the  pain  and 


—  315  — 

swellins;  is  less.  Among  the  pus  will  be  observed  organized  mat- 
ter, similar  to  cheese,  or  in  otiier  words,  not  uniform  in  thickness 
or  appearance.  This  is  a  disease  that  rarel}'  ever  gets  well  of  its 
own  efforts,  from  the  fact  of  the  sore  having  a  sack,  which  is  only 
removed  by  art ;  also  from  the  situation  of  fistula  presenting  no 
depending  opening  for  the  outlet  of  pus. 

Causes.  Bruises,  accidents,  caries  of  the  bones  (which  see),  in- 
flammation of  the  bone,  or  any  accident  that  will  cause  a  simple 
abscess,  will  cause  fistula. 

A  blow  that  would  produce  a  common  abscess  on  some  portions 
of  the  body,  will  result  in  fistula  in  other  portions,  as  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  a  joint. 

Treatment.  If  the  swelling  is  just  forming,  endeavor  to  put  it 
back  by  placing  chopped  ice,  in  a  bag,  over  it  for  a  few  da3^s.  By 
this  means,  many  a  swelling  which  would  terminate  in  a  fistula, 
will  be  cured  at  once.  This  not  succeeding,  have  an  opening  made 
into  its  lower  side,  so  as  the  bloody  water,  which  it  at  tliis  time 
contains,  will  be  discharged.  Then  syringe  a  half  tablespoonful 
of  the  tincture  of  iodine  into  it  once  a  day  for  a  few  days,  to  eat  or 
destroy  the  membranous  sack.  Then  treat  it  as  a  common  sore 
by  keeping  it  clean,  and  the  opening  from  closing  before  it  has 
healed  from  the  bottom.  For  this  purpose,  place  a  small  piece  of 
cotton  in  the  mouth  of  the  opening,  smeared  with  simple  oint- 
ment.    (See  Medicines  and  Prescriptions.) 

Fistula  in  the  Foot. — This  disease,  by  common  consent,  is 
called  quittor,  a  fistulous  abscess  in  the  foot.     (See  Quittor.) 

Fistulous  Withers. — By  farmers  called  Thisolow,  or  Fisolow. 
This  is  an  affection  described  in  the  preceding  article,  with  this 
difference  in  some  cases,  that  it  extends  through  over  the  top  of 
the  bones  of  the  withers  or  shoulders  to  the  other  side,  thus  form- 
ing a  very  broad  pad,  as  it  were,  on  the  top  of  the  shoulder,  just 
where  the  shoulder  in  health  is  the  sharpest  and  narrowest. 

Treatment.  Lay  chopped  ice  in  bags  over  the  swelling,  and,  if 
necessary,  open  and  take  out  the  sack,  or  destroy  it  by  the  injec- 
tion of  the  tincture  of  iodine,  and  dress  as  for  a  common  sore. 
(See  preceding  Article  and  Poll-Evil.) 

Fits. — This  is  a  term  applied  to  horses  subject  to  megrims,  or 


—  316  — 

staggers  (which  see),  causing  them  to  fall.  Hence,  the  expression, 
"  fitty  horse." 

Flaxseed. — Every  part  of  this  seed  is  used  one  way  or  another 
in  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  tlie  horse.  The  ground  seed,  mixed 
with  warm  water,  is  an  excellent  cooling  food  for  horses,  almost  a 
laxative.  The  pressed  juice,  or  oil,  is  a  certain  and  safe  purgative 
for  the  horse,  in  quart  doses.  The  residue,  which  remains  after 
the  oil  has  been  pressed,  commonly  called  cake  meal,  when  mixed 
with  warm  water,  makes  the  best  of  poultices  to  a  sore  or  wound. 
(See  Poultices.) 

Food,  Hints  on. — 1.  All  horses  must  not  be  fed  in  the  same 
proportions,  without  due  regard  to  their  ages,  their  constitutions, 
and  their  work.  Because  the  impropriety  of  such  a  practice  is  self- 
evident.  Yet  it  is  constantly  done,  and  is  the  basis  of  disease  of  every 
kind. 

2.  Never  use  bad  hay  on  account  of  its  cheapness.  Because 
there  is  not  proper  nourishment  in  it. 

3.  Damaged  corn  is  exceedingly  injurious.     Because  it  brings  on 

INFLAMMATION  of  the  BoWcls  and  SKIN  DISEASES. 

4.  Chaff  is  better  for  old  horses  than  hay.  Because  they  can  chew 
and  digest  it  better. 

5.  Mix  chaff  with  corn  or  oats,  and  do  not  give  them  alone. 
Because  it  makes  the  horse  chew  his  food  more  and  digest  it  better. 

6.  Hay  or  grass  alone  will  not  support  a  horse  under  hard  work. 
Because  there  is  not  sufficient  nutritive  body  in  either. 

7.  When  a  horse  is  worked  hard  his  food  should  chiefly  be  oats 
and  corn  ;  if  not  worked  hard,  his  food  should  chiefly  be  hay. 
Because  oats  and  corn  supply  more  nourishment  and  flesh-making 
material  than  any  other  kind  of  food.     Hay  not  so  much. 

8.  For  a  saddle  or  coach-horse,  half  a  peck  of  sound  oats  and 
eighteen  pounds  of  good  hay  are  sufficient.  If  the  hay  is  not  good, 
add  a  quarter  of  a  peck  more  oats.  A  horse  that  works  harder 
may  have  rather  more  of  each  ;  one  that  works  little  should  have 
less. 

9.  Rack-feeding  is  wasteful.  Tiie  better  plan  is  to  feed  with 
chopped  hay,  from  a  manger.  Because  the  food  is  not  then  thrown 
about,  and  is  more  easily  cheived  and  digested. 

10.  Sprinkle  the  hay  with  water  that  has  salt  dissolved  in  it. 


—  317  — 

Because  it  is  pleasing  to  the  animaVs  taste,  and  more  easily  digested. 
[A  teaspoonful  of  salt  in  a  bucket  of  water  is  suflicient.] 

11.  Oats  and  corn  should  be  bruised  for  an  old  horse  but  not 
for  a  young  one.  Because  the  former,  through  age  and  defective  teeth, 
cannot  chew  them  properly  ;  the  young  horse  can  do  so,  and  they  are 
thus  properly  mixed  with  the  saliva,  and  turned  into  wholesome  nutri- 
ment. 

12.  Grass  must  always  be  cut  for  hay  before  the  seed  drops. 
Because  the  juices  thai  ripen  the  seed  are  the  most  valuable  part  of  the 
hay.  If  they  are  sucked  out  by  its  ripening  and  dropping,  the  grass 
WILL  NOT  TURN  INTO  HAY  ;  but  ivill  icithcr  and  grow  yellow. 

13.  Vetches  and  cut  grass  should  always  be  given  in  the  spring 
to  horses  that  cannot  be  turned  out  into  the  fields.  Because  they 
are  very  cooling  and  refreshing,  and  almost  medicinal  in  their  effects  ; 
but  they  must  he  supplied  in  moderation,  as  they  are  liable  to  ferment  in 
the  stomach  if  given  largely. 

14.  Water  your  horse  from  a  pond  or  stream,  rather  than  from 
a  spring  or  well.  Because  the  latter  is  genercdly  hard  and  cold,  while 
the  former  is  soft,  and  compjaratively  warm.  The  horse  prefers  soft, 
muddy  water  to  hard  water,  though  ever  so  clear. 

15.  A  horse  should  have  at  least  a  pail  of  water,  morning  and 
evening ;  or  (still  better)  four  half-pailsful,  at  four  several  times  in 
the  day.  Because  this  assuages  his  thirst  ivithout  bloating  him.  But 
he  should  not  be  made  to  work  directly  after  he  has  had  a  full 
DRAUGHT  of  Water  ;  for  digestion  and  exertion  can  never  go  on  together. 

16.  Do  not  allow  your  horse  to  have  warm  water  to  drink.  Be- 
cause, if  he  has  to  drink  cold  water,  after  getting  accustomed  to  ivarm,  it 
will  give  him  the  colic. 

17.  When  your  horse  refuses  his  food,  after  drinking,  go  no  fur- 
ther that  day.  Because  the  poor  creature  is  thoroughly  beaten. 
(See  Humanity  to  Animals.) 

Fomentations. — This  term  has  been  used  exclusively  in  the 
ap[)lication  of  warm  water  to  an  inflamed  or  sprained  part,  and 
sometimes  to  a  sore.  I  may  be  right  or  may  be  wrong,  when  I 
say  that  the  application  of  cold  water  to  parts  similarly  affected,  is 
just  as  much  entitled  to  the  term  fomentation,  for  certainly  it  is 
applied  the  same  way  and  for  the  same  purpose,  namely,  to  allay 
irritation  in  the  sore  or  sprained  part ;  and  it  has,  from  my  own 


—  sis- 
experience,  proved  to  have  a  much  better  effect,  and  in  as  short  a 
time.  Cold,  applied,  has  an  effect  to  brace,  strengthen,  and  give 
tonicity  to  relaxed  sprains  and  sores.  Warmth  has  an  opposite 
effect,  i.  e.,  to  relax  and  debilitate.  In  foot  diseases,  warm  water 
will  be  preferable  for  softening  the  horn.  Where  warm  water  is 
used,  the  case  should  be  treated  afterwards  by  cold  fomentations. 
A  good  way  to  apply  cold  water  is  b\'  means  of  wet  woollen  cloths 
wrapped  loosely  around  the  parts,  and  wet  ever}^  hour  or  so  before 
the  skin  becomes  warm.  At  night  take  all  the  cloths  off:  this  will 
prevent  scalding,  and  falling  off  of  the  hair. 

Warm  water  should  be  applied  the  same  as  cold. 

Either  cold  or  warm  fomentations  should  be  continued  for  a  time 
to  get  their  benefits.  It  will  be  well  to  remember,  that  when  the 
cloths  are  allowed  to  become  dry,  an  opposite  reaction  is  immedi- 
ateh^  set  up.  Cold  is  followed  by  increased  warmth  in  the  parts. 
Warmth  is  followed  by  cold.  This  should  be  well  understood,  for 
in  my  opinion  cold  ai)plications,  with  absolute  and  entire  rest,  are 
the  only  and  best  agents  for  the  speedy  and  sure  cure  of  sprains  in 
whatever  part  of  the  legs  or  body. 

Foot  Diseases. — (1.)  Canker  in  the  Foot. — Happily,  this  is 
a  rare  affection,  because  it  is  not  easily  managed  from  the  peculiar 
tendency  in  the  horse's  foot  to  grow  and  produce  proud  flesh,  which 
is  the  essential  principle  of  the  affection.  Canker  in  the  foot  of  a 
horse  may  be  said  to  be  a  foot  deprived  of  a  part  of  its  sole,  in  lieu 
of  which  a  fungus  is  formed.  It  is  difficult  to  keep  it  level  with 
the  remaining  portion  of  the  sole.  Not  only  so,  but  we  have  to 
change  this  disposition  in  the  foot  to  throw  out  such  material,  and 
induce  the  material  to  secrete  or  produce  a  new  sole.  Tliis  is  the 
difficult}'  to  be  experienced  in  the  treatment  of  this  affection. 
Nevertheless,  cases,  and  ver}^  hard  ones,  too,  have  been  cured,  but 
not  in  a  day,  nor  a  week,  but  months. 

Causes.  Injuries  to  the  sensitive  sole  by  nails,  bruises,  and  other 
accidents,  as  a  piece  of  the  sole  being  torn  off. 

Treatment.  Removal  of  an}'  diseased  or  dead  sole,  and  the  proud 
flesh.  For  this  purpose,  the  knife  will  have  to  be  used  to  remove 
the  dead  sole,  and,  if  it  be  in  the  hands  of  an  energetic  person,  the 
most  of  the  fungus  or  proud  flesh  can  be  takei^  off  in  the  same 
manner.     If  not,  get  caustic  potash,  and  quickly  reduce  it  to  a 


—  819  — 

coarse  powder,  as  it  soon  dissolves  on  ex])0sure  to  the  air  Lay  it 
upon  the  raw  surface.  This  apply  next  day,  if  the  first  apjdication 
has  not  removed  sufficient  or  all  of  it.  After  the  proud  (lesii  has 
been  entirely  taken  off,  or  levelled  witli  the  sole  proper,  dress  every 
day  with  Barbadoes  tar,  one  ])ound  ;  sulphuric  acid,  three  drachms; 
powdered  sulphate  of  copper,  half  an  ounce.  Mix  well,  and  spread 
a  portion  over  the  sore  foot,  and  over  this  dressing,  a  pad  of  tow  or 
cotton,  held  firmh^  down  on  the  padding,  so  as  to  produce  pressure, 
an  important  matter  in  the  treatment  of  Canker  in  the  foot.  This 
can  be  secured  by  thin  ])ieces  of  splint  from  young  wood  being 
placed  across  one  another  over  the  pad,  and  the  ends  pushed  in 
between  the  foot  and  the  shoe.  By  this  means,  and  a  little 
patience,  witli  a  little  ingenuity  in  fixing  and  applying  these  pads, 
etc.,  even  very  bad  cases  can  he  cured. 

(2.)  Contraction. — This  is  not  so  much  a  disease  as  it  is  bad 
management  in  the  stal)le  and  in  the  blacksmith's  shop.  Contrac- 
tion may  be  said  to  be  an  alteration  of  the  shape  and  structure 
of  the  posterior,  or  back  portion  of  the  hoof — a  winding  in  of  the 
heels. 

Causes.  "Want  of  proper  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  owner  or 
horseshoer  in  not  knowing  the  difference  between  the  foot  that 
would  require  a  piece  added  to  it  at  each  shoeing,  and  the  one  that 
requires  a  large  portion  taken  from  it,  so  as  to  insure  elasticity 
and  expansion.  A  foot  strong  and  inelastic,  and  unyielding  to 
the  weight  of  the  animal,  is  the  very  first  foot  to  become  contracted. 
I  know  flat,  weak-footed  horses  travelling  sound  for  ten  or  fifteen 
years  without  in  the  least  being  contracted.  So  long  as  w^e  have 
strong-hoofed  horses,  and  shod  with  an  inflexible  iron  ring  to 
prevent  wear  and  tear,  and  the  blacksmith  neglects  to  take  off  of 
each  hoof  at  the  shoeing  as  much  horn  as  the  horse  w'ould  have 
worn  if  he  had  been  in  the  natural  state  and  not  shod,  we  will  have 
contraction. 

Treatment.  Cut  down  the  hoof  and  shorten  the  toe,  and  make 
the  hard  and  inelastic  foot  one  that  will  expand  at  its  heels  every 
time  the  w^eiglit  of  the  animal  puts  his  foot  to  tlie  ground. 

One-sided  nailing  is  an  excellent  preventative  as  well  as  an  as- 
sistant in  the  cure  of  contracted  feet.  What  is  meant  by  one-sided 
nailing  is,  that  nails  are  to  be  confined  to  the  outside  toe  of  the 


—  320  — 

foot,  so  as  to  allow  free  expansion  for  the  heels.  This  cannot  be 
done  with  a  shoe  being  nailed  on  by  nails  placed  at  each  side.  To 
illustrate  this  point,  place  a  small  horse-shoe  flat  in  the  palm  of 
the  hand  with  the  fingers  close  to  one  another ;  then  tie,  with  a 
piece  of  cord,  the  little  finger  to  one  side  of  the  shoe,  and  the  thumb 
to  the  other  side ;  then  you  will  realize  to  what  extent  you  can 
expand  the  fingers  so  secured.  So  it  is  just  with  the  foot  of  a  horse 
with  the  shoe  nailed  on  at  each  side.  Remove  the  cord  from  one 
finger,  and  the  whole  hand  is  free  to  expand.  So  likewise  the 
foot  of  the  horse  bv  one-sided  nailing. 

^  CD 

(3.)  Corns. — This  is  a  red  spot  on  the  inner  portion  of  the  heel 
of  the  foot,  causing  lameness,  and  consists  of  a  bruise  from  the 
shoe  pressing  upon  the  part,  the  shoes  having  shifted  from  their 
proper  position,  or  never  having  been  placed  there.  In  general, 
the  production  of  corns  may  be  laid  to  the  charge  of  the  horse- 
shoer,  and  sometimes  to  the  owner  allowing  the  horse  to  go  long 
before  the  shoes  are  removed,  or  before  the  foot  has  grown  from 
the  shoes.  Corn  is  an  analogical  term,  although  bearing  no  re- 
semblance to  that  well-known  aff'ection  of  the  feet  of  man. 

Treatment.  Remove  the  corns  by  cutting  them  out;  then  apply 
a  few  drops  of  commercial  sulphuric  acid  to  the  part.  Shoe  the 
horse  sufficiently  often  to  insure  even  bearing  to  the  shoe  upon  the 
wall  only  of  the  foot. 

(4.)  False  Quarter. — This  is  a  term  applied  to  the  horn  or  por- 
tion of  the  hoof,  which  overlaps  or  bulges  out  from  the  line  of  the 
second  portion  of  the  hoof 

Causes.  An  injury  to  the  coronet  or  ligament,  which  secretes, 
or  from  which  the  hoof  grows.  This  causes  an  alteration  of  the 
horn  of  the  hoof  below,  corresponding  to  the  exteni:  of  the  injury. 

Treatment.  As  there  will  be  an  enlargement,  more  or  less,  remain- 
ing after  an  injur}^  to  the  coronet,  little  will  be  required  to  be 
done,  but  to  keep  the  horn  as  level  with  the  hoof  proper  as  possi- 
ble, in  order  to  make  it  look  less  of  an  eye-sore. 

(5.)  Inflammation  of  the  Foot. — (See  Founder.) 

(6.)  Pricks. — Pricks  may  occur  in  the  act  of  shoeing,  or  from  a 
nail  being  picked  up  on  the  street,  and  from  other  hard-pointed 
substances. 

Treatment.     Pull  the  nail  out,  and  poultice  the  foot  for  twenty- 


-         -         s        ^        s  ^ 


—  321  — 

four  huurs ;  then  make  an  opening  through  the  horn,  over  the 
place  where  the  nail  went  in,  so  as  to  allow  the  pus  to  escape. 
For,  if  this  be  not  done,  and  the  pus  is  left  in  the  foot,  it  will  in  a 
few  days,  and  at  a  great  expense  of  suffering  to  the  horse,  break 
out  between  the  hoof  and  the  hair,  constituting  quittor.  After  an 
opening  has  been  properly  made,  drop  five  drops  of  muriatic  acid 
into  the  hole  once  a  day,  for  a  day  or  two.  Poultice  every  second 
night  or  day  and  not  oftener.  A  healthy  hoof  can  be  poulticed 
off  by  constant  application. 

The  horse  can  go  to  work  as  soon  as  he  can  step  on  the  ground 
firmly  and  without  lameness.  Remember,  that  in  all  cases  of 
pricks  and  other  injuries  which  end  in  suppuration,  as  pus  in  the 
foot  of  a  horse,  make  a  thorough  opening  so  as  to  allow  the  pus  to 
escape,  and  no  more  trouble  need  be  apprehended ;  except  the 
nail  has  entered  into  one  of  the  tendons  of  the  foot,  in  that  case 
no  pus  will  be  usually  formed,  the  majority  of  cases  ending  in 
locked-jaw  (which  see).  Where  pus  is  formed  after  pricking,  no 
locked-jaw  follows;  it  is  in  those  cases  only  where  pus  is  not 
formed  that  locked-jaw  may  be  expected. 

(7.)  Bruises  of  the  Foot. — (Treat  as  for  Prick  of  Foot.) 

(8.)  Sand  or  Quarter  Crack. — This  is  a  crack  or  split  in  the 
hoof,  usually  on  the  inner  side  of  the  fore  foot,  although  splits  and 
cracks  occur  in  all  places,  and  in  botli  fore  and  hind  feet. 

Causes.  A  brittle  condition  of  the  hoof,  from  the  want  of  suffi- 
cient moisture.  In  some  cases  the  horse  does  not  stand  square 
upon  his  fore  feet,  thereby  causing  undue  weight  to  fall  upon  one 
of  the  sides  of  the  hoof  and  causing  it  to  crack. 

Prevention.  Apply  to  brittle  feet  equal  portions  of  the  oil  of  tar, 
and  cod  liver  oil,  whale  oil,  or  any  fish  oil  well  rubbed  in  with  a 
brush  to  the  hoofs  a  few  times  a  week ;  and  occasionally  apply 
wet  cloths  to  the  feet  in  the  summer  season.  In  winter  the  feet 
are  better  supplied  with  moisture. 

Treatment.  Rasp  the  edges  of  the  hoof  thin,  the  nearer  the  crack 
the  thinner  the  horn  should  be  made ;  this  can  be  filled  up  with 
shoemaker's  wax.  After  the  horn  has  been  properly  thinned  a 
piece  of  the  wall  of  the  hoof,  for  about  half  an  inch  on  each  side 
of  the  crack,  is  to  be  cut  out  to  prevent  any  bearing  of  the  shoes 
upon  it,  thereby  preventing  the  constant  opening,  shutting  and 
21 


—  S22  — 

sometimes  bleeding  from  the  crack.  To  prevent,  or  rather  to  cause 
the  new  horn  to  grow  down  wliole  and  without  a  crack  in  it,  a 
piece  of  iron  is  to  be  placed  in  the  fire  and  made  red  hot,  and  then 
applied,  just  for  a  moment,  flat  on  the  hair  at  the  head  of  the 
crack  sufficient  to  make  a  scab.  This  will  insure  a  solid  growth 
of  horn.  Promote  the  growth  of  the  horn  as  speedily  as  possible, 
to  facilitate  the  cure ;  a  strap  is  used  by  some  round  the  hoof  to 
prevent  opening  of  the  crack. 

(9.)  Navicular  Disease. — This  is  a  disease  of  a  bone  in  the 
foot  of  a  horse,  a  serious  disease,  and  often  very  obscure  in  its 
symptoms,  altogether  depending  as  to  the  advanced  condition  of 
the  disease.  Happily,  however,  it  is  scarcely  met  with,  and  then 
only  in  the  common  hack  horse.  It  consists  of  ulceration,  of 
various  degrees,  on  the  surface  of  the  navicular  bone  within  the 
foot. 

Causes.  Hard  and  constant  work  upon  streets  paved  with 
stones.  Slight  inflammation  neglected  and  the  horse  not  laid  up 
until  it  gets  w^ell,  and  then  inflammation  increasing,  until  it  ends 
in  ulceration  of  the  bone. 

Symptom.  Obscure,  or  at  least  very  like  many  of  the  s^'mptoms 
similar  to  other  diseases  of  the  feet  and  legs.  It  is  chiefly  deter- 
mined by  the  undue  heat  in  the  foot,  and  by  the  fact  that  no  dis- 
ease can  be  detected  elsewhere  or  of  a  different  kind.  In  lameness 
of  other  portions,  not  in  the  foot,  we  have  heat  and  swelling — the 
hoof  or  foot  of  the  horse  cannot  swell.  It  is  a  box,  and  we  cannot 
see  into  it  to  examine  its  contents  and  condition. 

Treatment.  Incurable,  although  much  can  be  done  to  relieve  the 
pain  by  the  application  of  moisture,  poultices,  and  occasionally 
placing  the  hoof  in  warm  water  to  soften  and  relieve  pressure. 
Some  have  recommended  a.  blister  round  the  coronet.  I  cannot 
see  on  what  scientific  or  other  grounds  it  will  do  good.  In  well- 
established  cases,  and  in  good  strong  feet,  the  division  of  the 
nerves  which  run  down  on  each  side  of  the  leg  and  into  the  foot, 
will  relieve  the  pain  and  the  horse  will  go  well  for  years.  But  un- 
fortunately many  cases  so  operated  upon  have  lost  their  hoofs  by 
falling  off,  which  have  been  unjusth^  laid  to  the  operation.  The 
cause  of  this  is  not  so  much  in  tlie  operation  as  in  the  operator 
having  no  judgment  as  to  the  kind  of  hoof,  and  whether  the  op- 


-323  — 

eration  would  be  successful  or  not.  It  would  be  obviously  im- 
])roper  to  recommend  the  operation  upon  a  flat-footed  horse,  as 
the  animal  deprived  of  pain  would  let  his  thin  soled  foot  come 
down  to  the  ground  with  great  force  and  weight,  thus  injuring 
the  whole  structure  to  such  an  extent,  that  suppuration  takes 
place  and  ultimately  the  sloughing  and  falling  off"  of  the  hoof. 

(10.)  Seedy  Toe. — This  is  a  name  given  to  a  split  in  the  centre 
of  either  fore  or  hind  foot,  extending  a  little  way  up  from  the 
point,  or  it  may  be  up  to  the  hair  itself. 

Causes.     The  same  as  those  producing  sand-crack  (which  see). 

Treatment.  In  bad  cases,  a  clasp  or  plate  of  iron  secured  by 
short  screws.  In  simple  crack  or  split  from  the  toe  upwards,  cut 
off  all  communication  of  the  sound  parts  with  the  cracked  or  split 
portion.  For  this  purpose  a  three  edged  file  will  be  a  good  instru- 
ment for  making  the  division.  At  each  shoeing  the  split  i^ortion 
will  gradually  become  less  or  shorter. 

(11.)  Pumiced  Sole. — This  name  is  used  or  applied  to  the  sole 
of  a  foot,  which  is  convex  instead  of  concave ;  that  is,  instead  of 
the  nice  cupped  foot,  the  bottom  of  the  saucer  is  presented. 

Causes.  The  result  of  bad  or  severe  cases  of  founder,  where  the 
coffin  bone  is  let  down  upon  the  sole,  and  causes  its  descent  or 
convexitv. 

Treatment.  This  is  merel}^  palliative  and  is  to  be  done  by  plac- 
ing a  shoe  upon  the  foot  that  will  insure  and  protect  the  sole  from 
the  ground. 

(12.)  Thrush. — A  diseased  condition  of  the  sensitive  frog  of  the 
foot,  and  from  which  a  stinking  fluid  is  discharged,  which  is 
familiar  to  every  person  who  is  among  horses. 

Causes.  Too  much  moisure  to  the  foot,  as  from  animals  stand- 
ing in  their  own  excreta,  or  from  wet  stabling,  the  frog  becomes 
perverted,  and  deteriorating,  and  secreting,  or  discharging  a  black- 
ish color,  and  otherwise  nasty  fluid.  It  sometimes  accompanies 
navicular  disease. 

Prevention.  Dry  stabling,  a  stall  having  sufficient  inclination  or 
drainage  to  carry  off"  the  fluids.     Cleaning  the  stable  regularly. 

Treatment.  A  few  drops  of  muriatic  acid  forced  into  the  centre 
of  the  frog  once  a  day  for  a  few  days.  Keep  the  stable  and  stalls 
dry  and  clean.     A  few  doses  of  the  sulphite  of  soda  in  half  ounce 


—  324  — 

doses,  once  a  day,  for  a  few  days,  will  do  good  by  its  alterative  and 
puritive  effects  upon  the  system. 

(13.)  Tread. — This  is,  as  its  name  indicates,  a  contused  bruise 
inflicted  on  the  coronet  or  immediately  above  the  hoof  by  a  tramp 
of  the  shoe  on  another  foot,  or  even  by  another  horse.  Keep  the 
wound  clean,  and  apply  the  tincture  of  myrrh  and  aloes  daily. 

(14.)  QuiTTOR. — This  is  a  serious  and  painful  disease  of  the 
foot,  of  the  same  nature  as  poll-evil  and  fistula  in  the  shoulder ;  it 
is  known  by  a  large  swelling  around  or  above  the  hoof,  or  where 
the  hair  joins  the  hoof,  which  soon  breaks  and  discharges  pus. 

Symptoms.  Horse  off  his  feed.  Considerable  excitement  and 
fever.  Holding  the  feet  off  the  ground,  and  very  painful.  A 
swelling  soon  shows  itself  at  the  coronet,  and  in  a  few  days  breaks 
and  discharges  pus.  After  this  the  horse  will  resume  his  feed,  but 
will  not  make  very  free  with  his  foot,  which  will  be  better  to-day 
and  worse  the  next  day,  depending  upon  the  discharge  of  pus 
from  the  foot. 

Causes.  A  prick  from  a  nail,  a  bruise  on  the  sole,  a  suppurat- 
ing corn,  or  sometimes  from  a  sand  crack  taking  on  suppurative 
action. 

Treatment.  The  great  secret  of  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  is 
to  make  a  free  opening  from  the  bottom  of  the  foot.  When  this 
is  done  at  once,  you  will  be  greatly  surprised  to  see  the  swelling  go 
away  as  quickly  as  it  made  its  appearance,  and  if  the  swelling  has 
broken,  it  will  soon  cease  to  discharge  when  the  opening  is  made 
from  below,  or  at  the  bottom  of  the  foot.  Having  effected  this 
purpose  of  an  opening,  get  a  small  syringe  and  inject  into  the 
opening  above,  if  there  be  any,  and  if  not  from  the  opening  below, 
a  mixture  of  the  sulphate  of  zinc,  two  ounces  ;  rain  water,  eight 
ounces,  once  in  the  day.  If  the  shoe  has  been  taken  off  for  the 
purpose  of  making  the  opening,  have  it  put  on  again  so  as  to  hold 
some  soft  stopping  in  the  sole  to  keep  it  soft.  Cow  dung  is  as 
good,  if  not  better,  for  this  purpose,  than  the  best  of  costl}^  flax- 
seed. Never,  in  cases  of  this  disease,  apply  poultices  around  the 
whole  of  the  hoof,  as  in  tliat  case  the  hoof  may  fall  off.  Healthy 
hoofs  can  be  poulticed  off.  Whatever  poultice,  it  must  be  applied 
to  the  sole.     If  no  opening  has  been  made  from  below,  drop  ten 


—  325  — 

drops  of  muriatic  «icifl  into  the  opening  above  once  in  the  day,  for 
a  few  days.     This  will  destroy  the  disease. 

Founder. — (1.)  Acute  Founder. — Every  school-boy  is  familiar 
with  the  name  of  founder  when  applied  to  a  lame  horse,  but  few 
horsemen  ever  comprehend  the  nature  and  seat  of  this  affection. 
Founder  in  all  its  forms  is  inflammation  of  the  laminae  or  leaves, 
wliich  dovetail  into  each  other,  and  bind  the  sensible  and  insensible 
portions  of  the  foot  together.  Hence,  it  is  called  by  some  learned 
persons  in  diseases  of  horses  lamAnitiSy  by  adding  the  Greek  word 
itis.  Founder  is  again  called  by  some  persons  fever  in  the  feet. 
However,  as  to  namjcs,  the  disease  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  and 
when  left  to  itself,  destroys  many  good  horses  by  leaving  them  ever 
afterward  sore  and  tender  in  fronts  as  the  horsemen  have  it. 

Sijmptoms.  The  horse  will  scarcely  move ;  stands  upon  his  heels, 
with  fore  feet  and  legs  stretched  out  as  far  as  he  can  get  to  throw 
the  weight  off  tliem.  Thus,  to  all  appearances,  making  the  animal 
hollow  in  the  breast,  which  appearance  has  given  rise  to  the  idea 
that  the  horse  is  chest-foundered.  The  hind  legs  are  brought  far 
in  under  the  belly.  Tlie  head  of  the  horse  is  erect  and  high. 
Fever  and  constitutional  disturbance  are  very  great.  The  horse  is 
extremely  excitable,  and  breathing  fast  and  laborious.  Alto- 
gether, the  poor  suffering  horse  is  the  very  picture  of  distress  and 
disease. 

Causes.  Giving  cold  water  when  overheated,  and  tired  from 
overwork.  A  tendency  in  tlie  feet  to  take  on  inflammatory  action. 
The  animal  not  in  proper  health  or  condition  for  performing  heavy 
or  fast  work. 

Treatment.  Place  the  horse  in  a  wide  and  airy  stall,  w^ith  plenty 
of  good  straw  for  bedding  to  encourage  the  horse  to  lie  down, 
which  will  relieve  him  very  much.  Indeed,  so  much  is  this  the 
case,  that  it  has  been  recommended  that  every  foundered  horse 
should  be  forcibly  thrown  and  kept  down,  till  the  active  stage  of 
the  disease  has  passed  off.  This,  however,  I  do  not  advise,  as  the 
horse  is  excited  enough  without  increasing  it  by  throwing  him 
from  his  feet.  Rather  give  good  bedding,  and  the  majority  of 
horses  so  affected  will  l)e  ready  and  willing  to  lie  down  of  their 
own  accord.  After  the  place  is  all  fixed,  and  the  horse  moved  into 
it,  give  him  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  in  a  cupful 


—  326  — 

of  cold  water,  poured  into  the  mouth  with  a  bottle  having  a  strong 
neck.  Repeat  the  dose  every  four  hours,  till  six  to  eight  doses 
have  been  given.  Apply  cold  ice  water  cloths  to  the  feet.  In  a 
few  hours,  possibly,  the  shoes  can  be  taken  off.  At  first,  this 
generally  cannot  be  done,  except  the  animal  is  down.  Care  should 
be  taken  in  removing  the  shoes,  so  that  every  nail  is  made  loose 
before  an  attempt  is  made  to  pull  off  the  shoes.  Have  as  little 
hammering  on  the  foot  as  possible,  as  it  will  shake  the  great  and 
over-sensitive  frame.  Let  the  cold  water  be  kept  on  constantly  for 
the  next  day,  or  until  the  active  pain  gives  way.  At  leisure,  the 
feet  can  be  pared  thin  on  the  soles,  so  the}^  will  yield  to  pressure 
with  the  fingers.  By  getting  the  animal  to  lie  down  as  soon  as 
possible  after  he  gets  in ;  the  cold  water  cloths  applied,  and  the 
aconite  given  ;  the  animal  in  a  day  or  two  may  be  nothing  worse 
from  the  attack.  The  longer  the  animal  remains  before  these 
remedies  are  applied,  the  less  likely  is  he  to  be  free  from  its  effects 
afterwards.  Before  the  horse  is  again  put  to  work,  be  assured  he 
has  quite  recovered.  During  the  treatment,  give  plenty  of  cold 
water  to  drink.  Never  give  tepid  water  to  a  horse  while  he  is  sick 
from  disease.  Give  grass  or  soft  mashes  for  a  day  or  two,  but  do 
not  keep  a  sick  horse  too  long  on  low  feed,  as  debility  and  swelling 
of  the  legs  and  various  portions  of  the  body  will  take  place. 

Rememher.  Do  not  bleed,  neither  from  the  neck  or  foot,  nor  from 
any  place  else  in  a  disease  of  this  kind. 

(2.)  Chronic  Founder. — Symptoms,  Cause  and  Treatment  will  be 
much  the  same,  only  it  will  not  be  necessar}-  to  push  the  treatment 
so  far.  Principally  depend  upon  softening  the  horn  of  the  feet, 
paring  the  soles  of  the  feet,  and  a  few  days'  rest.  The  horse,  for  a 
week  or  two  afterwards,  should  be  placed  in  a  stall  having  six 
inches  of  sawdust  spread  over  it,  and  kept  a  little  moist  with  water 
poured  over  it  once  in  a  day.  When  horses  are  recovering  from 
acute  founder,  they  also  might  be  placed  in  a  stall  so  prepared. 
Clay  stalls  are  objectionable. 

Fractures. — This  term  signifies  a  broken  bone.  Fractures 
are  the  result  of  great  force  applied  to  the  bone,  as  from  kicks, 
jails,  and  accidents. 

Fractures  occur  in  three  forms. 


—  327  — 

(1.)  The  simple  fracture  or  break,  either  oblique,  or  slanting,  or 
straight  across  the  bone. 

(2.)  The  compound  fracture,  where  the  bones  are  broken  in 
several  places. 

(3.)  The  comminuted  fracture,  where  the  bones  are  broken  in 
pieces,  and  the  ends  of  the  broken  bones  are  seen  cutting  through 
the  skin,  and,  possibly,  severing  some  of  the  blood  vessels,  causing, 
in  many  cases,  death  from  loss  of  blood. 

The  first,  or  simple  fracture,  is  the  only  variety  that  calls  for 
much  notice,  as  the  other  forms  of  fracture,  when  occurring  in 
horses,  are  beyond  remedy.  Simple  fractures  of  the  following 
named  bones  may,  with  care,  be  in  a  great  measure  cured,  and  the 
animal  be  made  useful  for  man}''  purposes ;  as,  for  instance,  it 
would  be  obviously  wrong  to  have  a  valuable  mare  destroyed,  be- 
cause of  simple  fracture  of  one  of  many  bones,  as  she  would  be 
useful  for  breeding  purposes,  if  not  for  the  farm  or  the  road. 

Fracture  of  the  bones  of  the  leg  anywhere  from  the  elbow  down, 
except  it  may  be  the  knee  joint,  can  readily,  with  a  little  care  and 
attention,  be  secured  in  its  place,  and  the  animal  be  made  useful. 
So  also  the  hind  legs  from  the  hock  down  to  the  foot.  Fractures 
of  the  ribs  usually  get  well  of  themselves,  because  they  are  always 
kept  in  place.  So  also  of  the  haunch  bone.  Indeed,  simple  frac- 
tures of  most  any  of  the  long  bones  will  unite  of  their  own  accord, 
if  the  bones  are  put  and  kept  in  their  places  by  proper  fixings. 

Symptoms.  The  symptoms  of  fracture  of  the  long  bones  of  the 
legs  are  seen  at  once  by  the  looseness  of  the  leg,  the  horse  not  hav- 
ing the  power  to  move  it.  The  leg  can  be  turned  in  any  direction. 
The  horse  is  in  great  pain,  excitement,  sweating,  etc.  If  there  are 
bones  pointing  through  the  skin,  the  horse  had  better  be  shot. 

Treatment.  Place  the  horse,  if  in  summer  season,  in  the  field, 
and  in  winter  in  the  barn-yard,  where  there  is  not  too  much  straw 
to  prevent  the  foot  being  carried  without  interruption. 

Then  give  twenty-five  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  every 
five  hours,  for  the  twenty-four  hours,  to  relieve  pain,  excitement, 
and  fever.  Take  hold  of  the  broken  leg  carefully,  and  place  it  in 
a  position  as  near  like  the  other  leg  as  possible,  not  only  in  shape, 
but  in  actual  length  by  measurement,  for  it  is  the  neglect  of  this 
that  some  legs  are  left  shorter  and  some  longer  after  fractures.    The 


—  328  — 

whole  position  of  the  leg  being  got  at,  apply  a  good  coating  of  tar 
to  the  leg,  around,  above,  and  below  the  point  of  fracture.  Then 
wrap  the  whole  leg  in  oakum,  coarse  tow,  or  carded  cotton.  Over 
this,  place  broad  pieces  of  boards,  like  shingles,  on  the  sides  and 
front  of  the  leg,  and  fill  all  unevenness  with  the  tow  or  cotton,  so 
the  splint  or  boards  will  lay  flat  on  the  leg.  Secure  the  whole  by 
careful  tying  with  broad  strings  or  soft  cords.  The  great  secret  in 
the  successful  treatment  of  simple  fractures  of  the  bones  of  the  legs, 
is  the  fixing  of  the  leg,  so  it  cannot  move  until  they  have  united. 
Feed  the  horse  well,  and  see  every  day  that  the  splints  on  the  legs 
are  not  loose.  Never  sling  a  horse  from  his  feet  in  cases  of  fracture, 
for  it  will  be  regretted.  If  the  horse  is  to  be  kept  in  a  stall,  make 
a  hole  in  the  floor  of  the  stall,  underneath  the  foot  of  the  broken 
leg,  so  that  he  can  stand  with  the  leg  at  full  length.  Bear  in  mind, 
no  horse  will  put  his  foot  to  the  ground  until  he  is  able  to  do  so; 
therefore,  leave  ever3^thing  to  the  broken  legged,  except  the  matter 
of  securing  the  broken  bones  in  their  place.  And  by  giving  him 
his  feed,  he  may  be  safely  left  to  himself,  and  nature  will  do  the 
rest  for  him. 

Fracture  of  the  Hip  or  Pelvis. — Symptoms.  The  horse  is 
extremely  down  in  one  of  the  hips,  with  a  peculiar  loose  motion 
of  the  hind  leg,  almost  giving  way  every  step  the  horse  makes. 
There  is  no  disease  this  can  be  mistaken  for  in  the  hind  leg  or  hip. 
This  fracture  is  produced  in  a  moment;  and  even  whilst  the  horse 
is  trotting,  he  will  stop  all  at  once  as  if  he  were  shot.  Fracture 
of  the  hip,  I  say  hip — so  that  the  unprofessional  reader  will  better 
understand — but  it  is  the  bone  of  the  pelvis.  Tlie  mere  name  will 
not  amount  to  much,  for  the  treatment  is  :  Let  it  alone,  and  it  will 
get  well  in  three  months  of  itself  without  an}'  interference  from 
medicine  or  art.  Turn  the  horse  out  for  a  few  months,  either  in 
pasture  or  in  the  barn-yard,  and  give  him  plenty  to  eat. 

Fracture  of  the  ribs  will  require  no  treatment,  except  it  may  be 
a  few  days'  rest.  Sometimes  a  swelling  may  be  seen  on  the  side 
of  a  horse  having  a  broken  rib,  in  a  few  days  after  the  accident. 
It  may  form  an  abscess ;  if  so,  have  it  opened  to  let  out  the  mat- 
ter ;  and  if  it  should  not  become  soft  and  hold  matter,  let  it  alone, 
as  it  will  do  little  harm  ;  or,  make  the  application  for  a  few  times. 


-o      <^  — •- 


THE   SLING    IN    USE. 


—  329— 

say  once  a  week  for  tliree  weeks,  of  the  ointment  of  iodine.  (See 
Prescriptions  and  Medicines.) 

Fractures  of  the  simple  kind  take  phice  in  various  parts  of  the 
body,  and  when  such  is  the  case,  and  they  do  not  interfere  with 
any  action  or  function  of  the  body,  they  can  be  assisted  only  in  so 
far  as  bandage  and  splint  are  concerned,  so  as  to  secure  the  ends 
in  proper  position.  Tliis  will  require  some  ingenuity,  and  cannot 
be  described,  as  a  bone  is  not  always  broken  at  one  place,  nor  is  it 
always  of  one  set  kind  of  break.  The  means  will  on  these  occa- 
sions have  to  meet  the  ends  required  of  them  in  the  best  way 
possible.  Sometimes  pieces  of  broken  bone  will  have  to  be  taken 
out,  where  the  bone  has  become  detached.  If  this  occur  in  the 
bones  of  the  leg,  of  course  the  horse  had  better  be  shot.  Where 
small  pieces  of  bone  become  loose,  it  is  usually  in  some  of  the  flat 
bones,  as  the  shoulder  blade  and  the  lower  jaw  bone,  from  kicks 
from  other  horses. 

Fractures  of  the  teeth  take  place  often,  and  where  they  are  very 
loose  in  the  head,  they  had  better  be  taken  out  altogether,  and  rasp 
the  sharp  points  of  the  broken  ones  with  a  file  or  rasp,  to  prevent 
cutting  the  mouth  when  the  horse  is  chewing. 

Fungi  as  a  Cause  of  Disease. — Much  has  been  said  and  writ- 
ten of  late  years  of  minute  fungi  being  the  cause  of  diseases.  Dr. 
Lessaure  has  made  experiments  with  pencellum,  etc.,  and  con- 
cludes from  them  that  fungus  is  not  a  cause,  but  an  accidental 
presence.  In  contradiction  of  Hallier,  and  I  might  truthfully  say 
of  many  other  persons,  it  has  been  shown  that  nothing  is  to  be 
gained  in  the  study  of  the  causes  of  disease  by  cultivating  micro- 
scopic fungi,  and  it  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  contagious  element 
until  we  have  succeeded  in  producing  disease  from  art. 

Frost  Bites. — The  results  of  frost  bites  may  be  called  chill- 
blains,  which  again  give  rise  to  extreme  swellings  of  the  heels  and 
back  part  of  the  hind  legs,  until  finally  the  skin  gives  way,  termi- 
nating in  sores  and  ulcers  that  may  at  once  be  taken  for  scratches. 
The  sores  are  deeper  in  such  cases  than  in  scratches  or  greasy  legs, 
but  closely  resemble  Phagadena  (which  see).  In  the  worst  cases 
we  have  seen,  the  skin  and  flesh  sloughed,  followed  by  gangrene 
or  mortification  of  the  leg,  and  death  of  the  horse  from  the  poison 
thus  produced  and  absorbed.     We  have  seen  several  cases  of  frost 


—  330  — 

bites  in  different  stages  and  severities,  and  which,  in  all  cases,  was 
the  result  of  broken  and  im23erfect  doors  facing  the  northern  ex- 
posure, and  behind  which  stood  the  hind  legs  and  heels  of  the 
horse. 

Treatment.  If  the  legs  be  found,  on  opening  the  stable,  to  be 
swollen  and  painful,  rub  the  parts  with  snow  or  ice-cold  water, 
then  follow  gradually  with  warmer  water,  a  degree  or  two  above 
freezing ;  and  when  warmth  is  restored,  bathe  with  weak  spirits. 
When  the  legs  and  heels  break  into  sores  and  ulcers,  apply,  twice 
dail}^  carbolic  acid  (in  crystals),  four  drachms ;  olive  oil,  four 
ounces.     Mix. 

Gangrene. — This  is  a  name  applied  to,  oris  synonymous  with, 
mortification  or  death  of  a  part,  and  is  characterized  by  a  livid  or 
black  color.  Gangrene  is  attended,  or  is  ushered  in,  by  a  sudden 
giving  way  of  pain,  which  has  often  been  mistaken  for  recovery. 
When  gangrene  of  an  outward  or  external  part  takes  place,  there 
is  a  change  in  the  condition  of  the  part,  it  assumes  a  different  as- 
pect, the  swelling  subsides,  and  upon  touching  the  part  a  crack- 
ling sound  is  produced,  owing  to  the  evolution  of  gas. 

Gastritis  Mucosa. — This  is  a  new  name  to  many  persons,  even 
well  informed  in  diseases  of  horses,  notwithstanding  it  is  a  very 
common  one  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  assuming  always  an  epi- 
zootic form,  and  being  closely  allied  to  the  epizootic  catarrh,  some- 
times called  typhoid  influenza.  (See  Influenza.)  The  chief 
difference  in  the  symj^toms  between  the  two  diseases,  is  the  absence 
of  a  cough,  which  is  always  observed  in  influenza.  The  one  dis- 
ease attacking  the  lining  membrane  of  the  windpipe ;  the  other, 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  or,  in  other 
words,  the  digestive  organs,  more  than  the  respiratory.  Gastritis 
Mucosa  is  a  fatal  disease,  if  treated  by  low  diet,  bleeding,  blister- 
ing and  physicking,  because  it  alwa3''s  assumes  a  low  standard  of 
vitalit}'',  or  great  weakness.  Hence  the  horse  so  affected,  and  so 
treated,  has  no  chance  for  his  life  whatever. 

Si/mptoms.  As  before  stated,  the  horse  has  no  cough,  and  the 
breathing  is  not  disturbed.  The  breath  and  mouth  are  not  hot  or 
dry,  but  often  the  mouth  is  slimy,  and  to  such  an  extent  that  it 
looks  as  if  the  horse  were  salivated.  The  legs  soon  swell,  or  be- 
come rounded,  or  filled,  as  they  are  often  called.     The  swellings 


—  SSI  — 

are  not  inflammatory  nor  painful ;  they  contain  lymph,  or  plastic 
matter  from  the  blood,  which  disappears  as  it  cam<3,  when  the 
strength  of  the  horse  gets  up  again,  and  the  disease  subsides.  The 
appetite  is  entirely  suspended  from  the  commencement  of  the 
disease.  There  is  one  of  the  many  symptoms,  which  is  never  ab- 
sent in  this  disease,  and  is  very  characteristic  of  its  name  and  seat, 
and  this  symptom  is  that  the  faeces  or  dung  is  small,  or  in  pellets, 
and  covered  with  slime,  and  portions  of  the  mucous  membrane  of 
the  stomach  and  bowels,  or  what  the  stable-man  calls  "  very  fever- 
ish." The  prominent  symptom  of  this  disease  is  great  weakness, 
and  this  is  the  case  almost  from  the  first  moment  of  the  attack. 

Causes.  The  cause  of  this  as  well  as  of  all  epizootic  diseases,  is 
involved  in  not  a  little  obscurity,  and  to  get  out  of  this  state  of 
ignorance  and  uncertainty  as  to  the  cause,  we  are  graciously 
pleased  to  call  it  atjnospheric.  This  atmospheric  influence  may  be 
either  electric,  a  poison,  or  a  chemical  element,  capable  of  altering 
or  changing  the  various  parts  or  portions  of  the  body  most  ex- 
posed to  its  subtle  influences.  However,  this  disease,  as  before 
stated,  is  peculiar  to  the  spring  of  the  year,  commencing  as  the 
hermetically  sealed  earth  begins  to  open  its  pores  to  the  rain  and 
sunshine  of  spring.  May  there  not  be  deleterious  emanations 
from  the  earth,  or  at  least  after  great  frost  or  snow,  is  there  not 
during  the  process  of  thawing  a  colder  air  or  gas  given  forth  from 
the  thawing  process,  than  the  animal  is  breathing  a  few  feet  higlier 
up  from  the  ground  ?  And  in  connection  with  this  condition,  we 
have  in  horses,  at  least,  a  want  of  their  usual  protection,  for  with 
the  warm  sun  of  spring,  the  animal  throws  off  his  hairy  coat,  thus 
as  it  were  unnecessarily  exposing  himself  to  these  insidious  causes 
of  disease. 

Treatment.  When  cases  of  this  and  other  diseases  of  the  same 
type  (gastritis  mucosa)  first  came  under  my  care,  I  treated  upon 
different  principles  and  with  different  medicines  than  what  are  here 
recommended.  I  look  back  with  extreme  dissatisfaction  on  the 
false  doctrines  and  false  teachings  of  the  books  and  the  schools 
which  have  led  many  inquiring  minds  astray  since  their  day  of 
teaching  commenced.  The  treatment  now  recommended  is  sound 
and  successful,  and  in  a  very  short  time  tlie  horse  will  be  at  work 
again,  as  if  nothing  had  been  amiss.     The  first  day  of  the  disease. 


—  332  — 

give,  eveiy  four  hours,  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root 
in  a  little  cold  water ;  next  day,  give  the  tincture  of  nux  vomica  in 
fifteen  drops  every  four  hours,  in  the  same  way,  till  the  horse  is 
well,  which  usually  will  be  about  the  sixth  or  seventh  day,  and 
sometimes  even  sooner.  If,  however,  the  case  does  not  improve, 
and  the  appetite  is  not  good,  give  powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia 
and  gentian  root,  each  three  drachms  to  a  dose,  morning,  noon, 
and  night,  in  addition  to  the  tincture  of  nux  vomica.  Tliese  med- 
icines will  have  to  be  mixed  with  cold  water,  and  the  horse 
drenched  out  of  a  strong-necked  bottle  or  ox's  horn  cut  slanting  at 
the  mouth.  Keep  the  ammonia  in  a  bottle  tightly  corked  till  it  is 
used,  as  it  loses  its  strength  by  exposure  to  the  air.  Let  the  horse 
have  as  much  cold  water  to  drink  as  he  wants ;  and  for  this  pur- 
pose a  bucketful  should  be  kept  before  him..  Pure  air  and  good 
ventilation  should  be  insured  to  all  sick  horses.  Green,  or  soft 
feed  should  be  given  from  the  first  day,  if  the  horse  will  eat  it. 
Green  feed  all  the  time  of  sickness  w'ill  be  of  advantage,  but  oats 
will  have  to  be  given  in  addition  to  support  the  strength  and  vital 
powers  of  the  system,  to  enable  him  to  throw  off  the  efi'ects  of  the 
disease.  Such,  then,  is  the  manner  of  curing  a  disease  which  has 
destroyed  many  horses,  even  when  treated  by  men  calling  them- 
selves veterinary  surgeons,  or  at  least  horse  doctors.  (See  Influ- 
enza and  Rheumatism.) 

Glanders. — The  following  synopsis  of  a  lecture  delivered  by 
Dr.  McClure  published  in  the  Evening  Bulletin  will  answer  for  the 
history  and  nature  of  the  disease  called  glanders.  The  treatment 
will  be  made  more  plain  for  non-professional  readers. 

Dr.  Robert  McClure,  Veterinary  Surgeon,  delivered  a  very  inter- 
esting lecture  at  the  Veterinary  College.  His  subject  w\as  "  Glan- 
ders in  Horses."  He  said  :  Glanders  is  a  disease  dating  from  the 
time  of  Xenophon,  or  four  hundred  years  before  Christ,  and  we 
are  assured  by  Hippocrates  (ruler  of  the  horse),  that  confirmed 
glanders  was  incurable,  and  that  it  was  then  known  by  the  name 
Profluvium  Atticum.  Veterinary  surgeons  recognize  two  varieties 
of  Eqidnia  in  the  horse,  viz. :  Equinia  mitis,  contracted  from  horses 
with  greasy  heels  {Paronychia  Equi)^  and  Equinia  Glandulosa,  a 
dangerous  disease,  and  readily  communicated  to  man.  Glanders 
is  unknown  at  the  tropics  and  at  the  poles,  and  is  not  seen  where 


—  333  — 

sb'uma  is  not  a  disease  of  the  people.  It  is  a  domestic  disease. 
The  assignable  causes  are  many,  among  which  may  be  enumer- 
ated starvation,  filth,  and  debilitating  diseases,  as  strangles, catarrh 
and  lung-fever,  or,  indeed,  any  disease  capable  of  generating  pus; 
and  this  pus  being  absorbed  into  the  general  circulation,  thus 
forming  a  Ferment,  a  Zumin,  or  a  Leaven,  as  the  Bible  has  it, 
within  the  blood,  the  effort  of  nature  to  get  rid  of  this  offending 
matter  is  seen  in  the  ulcerations  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
nose.  The  recent  experiments  of  Professor  Giovanni  Polli,  of 
Milan,  seem  to  corroborate  this  view,  as  he  has  produced  glanders 
and  other  Zymotic  diseases  in  seventy  dogs,  by  injecting  into  their 
blood  in  some  cases  fetid  bullock's  blood,  pus,  and  glandered  pro- 
ducts, and  neutralizing  the  ferment  so  set  up  by  the  administration 
of  an  alkaline  sulphite — a  new  intero-chemical  doctrine — on  the 
principle  of  arresting  the  vinous  fermentation  set  up  in  a  vessel  of 
cider  by  adding  to  it  a  preparation  of  lime.  The  experiments  of 
this  distinguished  professor,  enable  the  veterinary  surgeon  to  ex- 
tend his  usefulness,  and  the  domestic  physician  to  snatch  man}"  a 
useful  life  from  an  early  grave.  How  many  brave  men  have  stood 
the  storm  of  battle  in  the  late  war — were  admitted  to  the  hospital 
with  perhaps  a  shattered  bone — amputation  was  performed,  the 
case  did  well  for  a  few  days.  The  kind-hearted  surgeon  saw  a 
change  for  the  worse :  appetite  gone,  the  rigor  and  chill  super- 
vened till  it  was  too  plainly  seen  that  the  pus  from  the  stump  had 
been  absorbed  into  the  blood  of  the  unfortunate  man ;  fermenta- 
tion was  set  up,  and  death  staring  him  in  the  face,  there  was  no 
power  to  save.  The  discovery  of  a  ferment  and  its  antidote  have 
changed  the  scene  from  death  to  that  of  life.  So,  likewise,  the 
veterinary  surgeons,  however  ignorant  and  slow  some  of  them  are 
to  see  and  understand,  it  will  enable  them  to  preserve  the  life  of 
many  a  useful  animal  to  its  owner,  thus  adding  very  materially 
to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  this  great  and  prosperous 
people. 

Glanders  are  recognized  by  ulceration  of  the  lining  membrane 
of  the  nose,  or  the  formation  of  pustules,  and  commonly  situated 
in  the  septum  nasi.  These  pustules  soon  ulcerate  and  discharge 
pus  of  a  greenish  color,  rapidl}^  drying  up  when  spread  over  the 
nostrils,  and  sinking  in  water,  owing,  as  is  supposed,  to  its  con- 


—  334  — 

taining  no  oil  or  pus  cells,  but  principally  albumen.  There  is 
one  phenomenon  never  absent  in  this  disease,  and  that  is  the  en- 
larged gland  under  the  jaw ;  hence  the  common  name  of  the  dis- 
ease— glanders.  There  are,  said  the  lecturer,  many  wrong  ideas 
entertained,  not  only  in  regard  to  the  contagious  nature  of  the 
disease,  but  also  in  regard  to  its  incurability  and  even  fatality. 
Glanders  is  no  more  contagious  than  the  heavy,  stinking  discharge 
from  the  nose  of  some  horses  with  catarrh,  as  the  pus  of  an  ab- 
scess on  the  nose  of  a  horse  with  a  cold,  when  introduced  into  the 
blood  of  healthy  animals,  will  produce  a  ferment — which  explains 
the  reason  why  a  cold  in  horses  terminates  in  glanders;  it  is  the 
absorption  of  the  pus.  This  will  be  readily  understood,  when  it 
is  said  the  horse  is  running  or  bordering  on  glanders.  Horses  af- 
fected with  chronic  glanders  will  live  and  work  for  years,  which 
fact,  being  well  known,  has  caused  dissatisfaction  with  local  laws, 
prohibiting  the  use  of  glandered  horses. 

Fresh  specimens  of  sections  of  the  lungs,  nose,  and  other  por- 
tions taken  from  a  glandered  animal,  were  placed  at  the  disposal 
of  the  lecturer  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  to  the  audience, 
showing  the  morbid  changes  effected  by  the  disease.  At  the  close 
of  the  lecture  the  doctor  showed  the  manner  of  generating  nascent 
hydrogen  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  the  presence  of  the  alkaline 
sulphite  in  the  secretions  of  horses,  under  its  effects,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  the  cure  of  glanders.  Before  touching  upon  the  plan  of 
treatment,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  article  Farcy. 

Treatment.  The  proposition  of  restoration  in  a  disease  of  this 
kind,  is  the  destruction  of  the  ferment,  the  removal  of  its  products 
or  effects,  and  the  improvement  of  the  bad  habit  of  body  by  en- 
riching the  blood. 

To  remove  or  neutralize  the  ferment  or  poison,  give  one-half  to 
one  ounce  doses  of  the  sulphite  of  soda  at  night,  in  cut  feed,  for 
several  weeks,  and  five  grains  of  the  powdered  Spanish  fly  along 
with  it,  which  will  act  not  only  as  a  powerful  tonic,  but  as  an 
agent  whereby  the  product  of  the  disease  will  be  removed  from 
the  body  of  the  animal  by  the  kidneys.  This  treatment  will  not 
interfere  with  the  other  medicine,  which  is  powdered  gentian  root, 
three  drachms ;  powdered  sulphate  of  copper,  two  drachms.     Mix 


—  33S  — 

these  articlcK,  and  give  the  whole  for  a  dose,  and  give  one  dose 
morning  and  mid-day. 

These  medicines  will  have  to  he  continued  for  a  long  time,  not 
only  to  cure  the  disease,  but  to  improve  tlie  health.  The  horse 
must  be  well  and  highly  fed,  and  removed  from  other  horses  while 
tlie  treatment  is  going  on.  Change  the  feed  often,  so  as  to  get  all 
the  elements  that  the  blood  requires,  and  to  keep  up  the  appetite, 
for  if  the  appetite  fails,  no  cure  can  be  made. 

Remember.  Glanders  associated  with  tubercles  of  the  lungs, 
cannot  be  cured,  and  it  then  partakes  rather  of  the  nature  of  con- 
sumption than  of  simple  glanders  with  tubercles,  which  is  easily 
cured. 

Glass  Eye. — (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Gleet — (iVa.saZ.)  This  term  is  used  to  denote  a  thin,  trans- 
parent discharge  from  the  nose  in  case  of  coryza,  and  as  a  sequel 
to  catarrh  and  cold  in  old  and  debilitated  horses.  Whilst  there 
are  no  ulcers  on  the  lining  membrane  of  the  nose,  or  no  enlarge- 
ment of  gland  under  the  jaw,  the  case  may  be  dismissed  as  simple 
gleet,  which  can  be  readily  cured  by  good  feeding  and  a  few  tonic 
powders,  such  as  powdered  sulphate  of  copper,  three  ounces; 
powdered  gentian  root,  four  ounces ;  powdered  Spanish  fly,  one 
drachm.  Mix  and  divide  into  twelve  powders,  and  give  one  pow- 
der once  in  the  twenty -four  hours.  These  powders  will  last  two 
weeks,  and  can  be  renewed  if  necessary.  Give  the  powders  in 
large  bulk  or  cut  feed,  so  as  to  protect  the  coat  of  the  stomach 
from  the  effects  of  the  Spanish  fly. 

Granulation. — This  means  the  little  red  portions  of  flesh,  which 
grow  in  and  till  up  holes  made  by  wounds.  Sometimes  these 
grow  too  fast;  then  they  are  unhealthy,  being  soft,  grow  beyond 
the  edges  of  the  wound.  To  prevent  this,  sprinkle  a  little  pow- 
dered blue-stone,  or  a  little  suljihate  of  zinc,  and  the  wound  will 
soon  heal  level  with  the  surrounding  surface. 

Gravel  in  the  Foot. — This  name  conveys  an  impression  that 
sand  or  gravel  has  got  into  the  foot,  which  is  often  the  case  from 
cracks  or  other  openings  in  the  foot,  whether  from  above  or  below. 
Wash  out  the  sand,  if  possible ;  if  not,  remove  some  of  the 
horn,  and  wash  out  well,  and  fill  up  the  hole  by  shoemaker's  wax 
applied  hot,  and  smoothed  over  by  the  hand  previously  wet,  so 


—  336  — 

the  warm  wax  will  not  stick  to  it.  If  the  opening  he  in  the  sole, 
shoe  with  leather  soles,  tar  and  cotton,  until  the  hole  has  grown 
out  or  closed  up. 

Grease. — This  is  a  disease  of  the  heels  and  legs  of  horses, 
characterized  by  an  unsightly  condition  of  the  parts.  The  whole 
being  the  result  of  suppurative  inflammatory  action  of  the  skin 
and  heels  of  the  hind  legs,  usually,  but  sometimes  of  the  fore 
ones ;  is  more  common  in  coarse-bred  western  horses,  and  heavy 
breeds,  than  in  well  or  fine-bred  horses. 

Cause.  Sudden  changes  of  the  temperature  of  the  earth, 
whether  from  heat  to  cold,  or  from  wet  to  dry.  This  disease  al- 
ways follows  sloppy  or  wet  streets,  stables  or  lands,  producing  a 
relaxed  condition  of  the  parts  from  too  much  moisture. 

Treatment.  Keep  the  legs  clean  and  dry,  and  apply  a  mixture 
to  the  heels  twice  in  the  twenty-four  hours.  AVater,  one  pint ; 
sulphuric  acid,  two  drachms ;  corrosive  chloride  of  mercur}^  one 
drachm.  Mix,  and  shake  up  before  using.  Many  cases  are  readily 
cured,  by  simply  keeping  the  heels  clean,  and  anointing  with 
glycerine,  or  lard,  having  no  salt  in  it.  It  must  be  confessed  by 
everybody,  who  has  had  any  experience  at  all  in  the  treatment  of 
this  disease,  that  there  is  uncertainty  of  an  early  cure ;  some  cases 
will  be  cured  in  a  short  time,  and  in  others  it  would  seem  that  the 
discharge  would  never  dry  up  and  be  healed.  For  cases  that  prove 
obstinate,  the  following  plan  will  effect  a  cure,  when  other  vaunted 
remedies  have  failed:  Take  one  box  of  concentrated  lye,  and  dis- 
solve it  in  two  quarts  of  water,  and  bottle  up  for  use  when  wanted, 
in  the  following  way:  Pour  a  wine-glassful  of  the  solution  of  lye 
into  a  small  bucket  of  cold  water,  and  wash  and  bathe  the  heels 
and  legs  for  half  an  hour,  morning  and  night.  A  great  change  for 
the  better  will  be  seen  in  a  day  or  two.  This  wash  seems  to  have 
the  power  of  relaxing  and  softening  the  skin,  and  at  the  same 
time  causes  the  legs  to  sweat  greatly.  Dry  them  as  often  after 
the  bathing  as  you  like,  there  will  pour  out  great  quantities  of 
moisture  from  the  skin  as  soon  as  you  have  done. 

Shot  of  Grease. — This  is  a  different  disease  from  the  one  de- 
scribed, from  the  fact  that  it  attacks  only  one  leg,  and  that  one  of 
the  hind  ones,  and  comes  on  in  a  night,  without  any  preceding 
symptoms  whatever,  and  hence  it  is  called  a  shot  of  grease.    Thero 


—  337  — 

is  no  cracking  of  the  skin  of  the  heels  or  legs,  but  it  remains 
whole  and  unbroken. 

Cause.  Robust  stamina,  or  too  fat  and  full  of  flesh,  and  to  get 
rid  of  this  superfluity,  plastic  lymph  is  thrown  into  one  of  the 
hind  legs,  which  causes  swelling  of  the  leg  to  an  enormous  size. 
If  this  material  were  thrown  from  the  blood  into  one  of  the  fore 
legs,  where  the  nearness  to  the  heart  increases  the  activity  of  the 
capillary  circulation,  matter  would  not  remain  as  it  does  in  the 
hind  legs,  which  are  so  far  from  the  centre  of  circulation.  This 
disease  is  not  unlike  the  jMegmassia  dolens,  or  milk  leg  in  the  hu- 
man family. 

Treatment.  If  the  disease  be  observed  early  or  before  the  leg 
becomes  hard,  take  about  one  quart  of  blood  from  the  neck,  and 
give  slop  feed,  that  is,  bran  with  plenty  of  water  in  it.  Also,  give 
one  ounce  doses  of  the  sulphite  of  soda  once  in  the  day,  for  a  few 
days,  and  bathe  the  legs  three  times  in  the  day  with  the  same 
solution  of  concentrated  lye,  as  is  recommended  in  grease  (which 
see).  If  the  swelling  does  not  lessen  in  two  days  after  these 
various  agents  have  been  employed,  then  incisions  of  an  inch  in 
length,  through  the  skin,  will  have  to  be  made  for  the  purpose  of 
letting  out  the  imprisoned  fluid  before  the  arteries  of  the  legs  have 
become  plugged  or  filled  up,  which  constitute  the  thick  or  fat  leg 
so  often  seen  in  horses  in  large  cities.  In  addition,  the  leg  will 
have  to  be  bandaged  pretty  tightly  with  a  broad  bandage,  and  be 
still  bathed  three  times  in  the  day  with  the  solution  of  concen- 
trated lye.  Many  good  horses  have  been  rendered  of  little  value 
from  want  of  a  knowledge  of  this  disease  and  its  proper  treat- 
ment. 

Gripes. — This  name  is  sometimes  applied  to  colic  (which  see). 

Grogginess. — A  term  meant  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  horse 
does  not  travel  very  steady  in  front,  from  contracted  or  bent  legs 
at  the  knee,  or  from  soreness  in  the  feet  from  a  previous  attack  of 
founder  in  the  feet  (which  see). 

Grunter. — This  name  is  applied  to   horses  that  give  forth  a 
grunting  noise.     One  condition  giving  rise  to  wheezing,  roaring, 
whistling,  piping,  and  rattling,  will,  with  slight  modification,  pro- 
duce a  grunter. 
22 


—  338  — 

Observe.  If  the  collar  is  not  too  tight  on  the  neck,  interfering 
with  the  free  j^assage  of  air  in  and  out  of  the  windpipe. 

Causes.  Generally  from  some  thickening  of  the  glands  of  the 
neck,  or  of  the  windpipe — the  effects  of  bronchitis  or  distemper, 
not  treated,  or  improperly  treated,  in  not  supporting  the  strength, 
whereby  all  thickenings  are  taken  up,  or  reduced  and  even  pre- 
vented. 

Gullet,  Obstructions  in  the. — (See  Choking.) 

Gunshot  Wound. — This  is,  excepting  in  times  of  war,  a  rare 
occurrence,  and  the  treatment  consists  in  extracting  the  bullet,  and 
healing  the  wound  as  for  an  ordinary  sore.  The  bullet  is  ex- 
tracted by  an  instrument  called  a  Bullet  Forceps.  The  instrument 
grasps  the  bullet,  and  extracts  the  ball. 

Gutta  Serena. —  (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Heart,  Disease  of  the. — Of  diseases  of  the  heart  little  need 
be  said,  and  as  little  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  cure ;  so  all  I  pro- 
pose under  this  head  is  merely  to  name  a  few  of  the  altered  con- 
ditions of  the  heart,  which  are  all  embraced  in  the  sweeping  term 
'•  Heart  disease." 

(1.)  Enlargement  of  the  heart. 

(2.)  Wasting  or  shrinking  of  the  heart. 

(3.)  Foreign  bodies  of  the  heart. 

(4.)  Fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart. 

(5.)  Inflammation  of  the  heart. 

(6.)  Ossification  of  the  heart. 

Heaves. — This  is  a  term  in  frequent  use,  but  not  so  well  under- 
stood as  it  ought  to  be,  seeing  its  importance  as  to  the  proper  value 
of  an  animal.  Heaves,  then,  may  be  defined  as  a  difficulty  in 
breathing,  whereby  the  value  and  usefulness  of  the  horse  is 
seriously  impaired.  There  is  every  degree  of  intensity  to  be  seen 
in  this  disease.  Some  animals  are  so  seriously  affected,  that  it  is 
hard  to  look  at  the  terrible  efforts  made  in  the  act  of  respiration. 
The  deep  and  not  sufFered-to-be-completed  respiration  tells  the 
tale  of  great  asthmatic  effort  and  oppression.  In  others,  it  is  so 
slight  that  onl}^  experts  can  observe  it ;  not  from  the  quickness  of 
breathing,  nor  yet  from  its  depth,  but  from  a  peculiar  double  beat 
or  hitch,  differing  from  all  other  varieties  of  breathing,  either  of 
fever,  inflammation,  or  debility. 


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—  339  — 

Causes.  Debility  of  the  parvagum  nerve;  for  if  this  nerve  is 
divided  or  cut  in  its  course,  heaves,  or  broken  wind,  is  set  up  at 
once.  The  real  condition  of  this  nerve,  which  gives  rise  to  heaves, 
is  not  at  present  known  ;  and  it  is  difficult,  in  many  cases,  to 
trace  and  distinguish  any  alteration  of  the  nerves,  as  they  may 
retain  their  color,  yet  their  influence  may  be  greatly  impaired. 
For  two  reasons  I  have  said  debility.  First,  because,  if  it  was 
cut,  or  had  entirel}'  lost  its  influence,  the  animal  would  die  in 
forty-eight  hours.  Second,  because,  by  the  administration  of 
powerful  tonics,  the  symptoms  of  the  disease  are  greatly  relieved, 
and  in  some  cases  they  entirely  disappear. 

Treatment.  Horse-dealers,  in  order  to  allay  the  symptoms,  that 
is,  the  peculiar  breathing,  give  an  ounce  each  of  powdered  sulphate 
of  iron,  gentian  and  ginger  root.  It  is  the  largeness  of  the  dose 
that  is  given,  and  repeated  for  a  few  days,  that  imparts  a  tonicity 
to  the  nerve.  Although  I  have  here  spoken  of  this  matter,  I  do 
not  wish  to  be  understood  as  advocating  such  treatment,  nor  as 
attempting  to  cheat  or  deceive  any  one;  but  the  large  dose 
of  iron  meets  my  decided  disapproval,  as  being  highly  injurious 
to  the  horse.  The  treatment,  whatever  that  may  be,  to  do  good 
permanently,  must  be  by  a  gradual  and  progressive  improvement. 
Five  grain  doses  of  arsenic,  given  once  in  the  twenty-four  hours 
for  two  weeks;  then,  after  a  week's  intermission,  commencing  as 
before,  will  soon  cure  many  cases.  Give  the  animal  feed  in  small 
bulk.  Use  as  little  ha}^  or  rough  feed,  in  large  bulk,  as  possible. 
Improve  the  condition  of  the  horse  by  every  way  or  means,  and 
you  will  relieve  the  animal. 

Heat. — General  heat  of  the  skin  indicates  fever  ;  local  heat,  in- 
flammation. 

Hepatic  Diseases. — (See  Liver,  Inflammation  of  the.) 

Hernia. — This  is  a  name  given  to  ruptures.    (See  Ruptures.) 

Herpes. — A  name  used  in  skin  diseases.  (See  Mange  and  Skin 
Diseases.) 

Hereditary  Diseases. — No  one,  of  any  observation,  can  deny 
that  hereditary  influence  exists  in  the  production  of  disease.  This 
influence  must  not,  in  the  production  of  disease,  be  considered  as 
invariably  reliable.  The  fact  of  horses  or  mares  having  a  disease, 
is  no  reason  why  their  young  will  have  the  same  disease,  also.     It 


—  340  — 

was  through  change  or  alteration  of  structure,  action  or  function, 
that  existed  in  either  of  the  parents,  that  disease  fastened  upon 
them,  and  these  same  forms  which  existed  in  them  are  hkely  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  offspring,  thus  carrying  the  various  forma- 
tions of  structure,  which  will  ultimately,  in  all  probability,  produce 
the  same  disease.  A  great  number  of  the  affections  which  are 
usually  styled  hereditary  do  not  make  their  appearance  until  years 
after  their  birth,  because  it  required  time  and  work  to  develop 
them.  Few  persons  would  expect  a  horse  with  cow  hock  (which 
see),  to  become  curbed  without  work,  as  a  secondary  cause.  Tliere 
is  one  other  point  which  is  worth}"  of  remark,  in  speaking  of 
hereditar}'  diseases,  which  is  that  many  animals,  after  being  poorly 
bred,  have  been  badly  fed  and  cared  for ;  whereas  if  good  feeding 
and  care  had  been  bestowed  upon  them,  it  would  have  gone  a  long 
way  in  lessening  the  certaint}"  of  developing  hereditary  diseases  in 
them  and  their  offspring.  This  is  every  day  being  illustrated  in 
the  famih^  of  men.  There  are  several  rules  laid  down  to  Vje  ob- 
served as  measures  to  prevent  and  modify  conditions  which  result 
in  producing  diseases  of  hereditary  predisposition.  And  there 
have  been  receipts  found  in  the  temple  of  ^sculapius,  and  said  to 
be  in  the  handwriting  of  Hippocrates  himself,  for  the  purpose  of 
mitigating  the  hereditary  conditions,  which  are  so  often  seen  in 
the  human  famil^^  Although  these  rules  cannot,  in  all  cases,  be 
applied  to  animals,  nevertheless  much  can  be  done.  The  better 
way  will  be  to  avoid  breeding  from  diseased  animals.  So  long  as 
like  begets  like,  so  long  will  we  have  hereditary  diseases  among 
horses. 

Hide  Bound. — This,  properly  speaking,  is  not  a  disease,  but 
the  symptoms  of  a  bad  condition,  '  out  of  sorts,"  debility,  etc. 

Treatment  Feed  in  large  bulk,  mixed  feed — cut  hay^  corn  meal, 
and  bran  in  good  proportion — with  no  more  water  than  will  keep 
the  particles  together.  Give  the  following  powder  in  feed  every 
night,  for  twelve  nights  : — Powdered  sulphate  of  iron,  three 
drachms  ;  powdered  gentian  root,  four  drachms.  Mix.  If  the 
animal  is  fat  and  yet  hide  bound,  substitute  the  following,  instead 
of  the  above  recommended  : — Take  sulphuret  of  antimony,  three 
drachms;  sulphur  in  flour,  three  drachms  ;  sulphite  of  soda,  half 
an  ounce.     Mix,  and  give  in  one  dose,  repeating  it  ever}'  night  for 


—  341  — 

two  weeks.  If  in  the  winter,  use  an  extra  blanket.  If  in  summer, 
give  cut  grass  to  eat. 

Hip-joint  Disease. — Happily,  this  is  a  very  rare  disease  in 
horses,  and  does  not  make  its  appearance  so  soon  as  in  man.  It 
is  always  the  result  of  accident  or  injury^  and  is  a  joint  affection — 
not  of  the  muscles,  because  the  mass  of  muscles  are  so  very  great 
over  the  hip,  that  it  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  sprain  them.  I  speak 
of  this  here,  because  among  horsemen  it  is  a  great  bug-bear,  often 
occurring  in  tiieir  ideas;  whereas  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a 
hundred  of  their  so-called  hip  and  ivkhi  hone  disease,  the  lameness 
will  be  found  in  the  hock -joint.  Wli}-  do  they  jump  at  the  con- 
clusion thrit  the  lameness  is  in  the  hip?  Because  in  every  move- 
ment of  the  hock -joint,  the  vibration  or  hitch  is  more  distinctly 
seen  by  the  altered  action  of  the  muscles  of  tlie  hip,  as  when  the 
hock -joint  moves  but  partially,  and  not  completely,  it  is  not  so 
readily  seen  at  the  hock  as  at  the  hip.  Hence,  this  is  but  the  old 
adage,  cause  and  effect ;  in  this  case  the  horseman  has  them  re- 
versed.    (See  Spavin.) 

Symptoms.  Lowness  or  falling  in  of  the  hip  ;  a  peculiar  manner 
of  moving,  not  indicating  inability  as  is  seen  in  fracture  of  the 
pelvis  bone,  but  of  great  pain  and  difficulty  ;  not  yielding  or  bend- 
ing low  down  on  that  quarter  when  the  horse  takes  a  step.  The 
leg  appears  shorter,  and  is  placed,  when  standing,  slightly  under 
the  body,  and  not  doubled  up,  or  standing  upon  the  toe  as  is  seen 
in  cases  of  hock-joint  disease. 

Treatment.  Absolute  and  entire  rest  for  a  few  wxeks.  The  ap- 
plication of  cold  water  cloths  over  the  hip,  taking  them  off  at 
night,  and  applying  them  in  the  morning  again.  This  will  have 
to  be  kept  up  for  a  week,  at  least,  so  tluit  all  heat  and  tenderness 
will  be  removed  before  any  irritant  can  be  used  to  the  parts. 
(Never  apply  hot  liniments  to  a  part  already  too  hot  and  painful.) 
Then  apply  by  rubbing  with  the  hand  over  the  parts,  every  second 
day,  the  following :  Oil  of  turpentine,  one  ounce  ;  oil  of  cloves,  two 
ounces ;  creosote,  one  ounce.  Mix.  This  will  not  only  act  as  an 
irritant,  but  as  a  powerful  sedative  to  tlie  nerves  of  tlie  parts,  caus- 
ing relief  from  pain,  so  that  the  aniujal  c;ui  be  made  useful. 

Hock,  The. — This  is  an  important  joint  or  part  of  the  horse, 
and   is   the   seat   of  many  diseases,  causing  lameness.      In    the 


—  342  — 

uaajority  of  hind  leg  lameness,  the  hock  is  the  true  situation.  This 
fact  is  not  apparent  to  the  non-professional  person,  as  the  hock, 
while  diseased,  does  not  swell  so  often  as  other  portions  of  the 
body  or  legs  when  diseased.  Bog  or  blood  spavin  and  thorough- 
pin,  a  blind  man  can  almost  see.  With  these  exceptions,  I  sa3% 
hock-joint  lameness,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  is  charged  to  the  hip 
or  somewhere  else,  simply  because  persons  fail  to  see  any  pecu- 
liarity, even  when  pointed  out  to  them.     (See  String-halt.) 

Sprain  of  the  hock-joint  is  to  be  treated  with  cold  water  cloths, 
for  a  few  days,  and  the  application  of  the  following,  once  ever}^ 
second  day,  for  a  week,  with  friction  or  rubbing :  Oil  of  turpen- 
tine ;  oil  of  olives ;  equal  parts.  Mix.  This  is  a  simple,  cheap, 
and  good  liniment,  and  will  answer  every  purpose. 

Rupture  of  the  internal  and  external  lateral  or  side  ligaments 
of  the  hock -joint  is  occasionally  seen,  and  is  caused  by  a  violent 
slip.  The  rupture  is  at  once  recognized  b}^  the  loss  of  power  of 
the  horse  over  the  leg  below  the  joint ;  but  can  stand  on  the  leg, 
as  if  it  were  sound,  and  there  is  little  or  no  swelling — which  pe- 
culiarities serve  to  show  the  difference  between  a  broken  bone  of 
the  leg  and  the  ruptured  ligaments  of  a  joint.  (See  Ligaments.) 
The  cure  is  accomplished  by  absolute  and  entire  rest,  with  occa- 
sional friction  with  the  turpentine  liniment,  just  mentioned  above. 
Be  assured  of  the  complete  union  of  the  ligaments — which  will 
take  place  when  the  horse  can  bend  and  properly  use  the  leg — be- 
fore exercise  or  work  be  exacted. 

Hooks  in  the  Eyes. — This  is  a  term  in  use  by  country  folks 
when  referring  to  the  peculiar  action  of  the  membrana  victataiis  in 
cases  of  locked-jaw  (which  see).  Many  persons  have  advised 
that  these  useful  membranes  should  be  cut  out.  Nothing  could 
be  further  wrong  than  this ;  for  it  is  merely  the  effect  of  a  cause. 
Rather  remove  the  cause,  or  cure  the  locked-jaw,  and  the  protrud- 
ing of  the  hook  or  horns  will  cease.  This  is  the  onl}^  true  plan 
to  adopt. 

Horse,  Natural  History  of  the. — The  horse  comes  under 
the  division  vertebrata,  class  mammalia,  tribe  ungulata,  order 
pachydermata,  family  solipeda. 

Horse  Fly. — This  comprehends  the  gad  or  breeze  fly,  Gaster- 
(yphilus  astrus.     The  spotted  horse  fly,  G.  EquL     The   red  tailed 


—  343  — 

horse  fly,  G.  hemorrhoidalis.  This  last  fly  deposits  her  eggs  on 
the  lips  of  the  horse,  and  tlie  former  glues  them  to  the  hair  of  the 
legs.  These  various  eggs  are  ultimately  taken  into  the  stomach, 
and  in  one  year  they  have  become  sufficiently  matured  that  they 
are  thrown  out  to  the  outer  world  to  get  wings,  and  finally  fly 
about  and  propagate  their  kind  in  the  same  manner  as  the  parent 
stock.     (See  Worms.) 

Humanity  to  Animals,  Hints  on. — (1.)  Warm  the  bit  in 
frosty  weather,  before  putting  it  into  the  horse's  mouth. 

(2.)  Let  the  horse  lick  a  little  salt  from  your  hands  whenever 
you  off'er  him  the  bit. 

(3.)  Never  startle  a  horse  by  striking  him  suddenly  or  unex- 
pectedly. This  caution  is  speciall}^  important  if  he  has  a  blind 
bridle. 

(4.)  Uniformly  gentle  treatment  will  secure  faithful  and  steady 
work.  Anger,  severity,  and  sudden  jerking,  endanger  your  har- 
ness, your  vehicle,  and  your  life,  besides  permanently  injuring 
your  horse. 

(5.)  Be  well  provided  with  horse-blankets,  particularly  at  night. 
If  3'ou  are  waiting  for  passengers,  while  you  look  out  for  your  own 
comfort  by  a  warm  fireside,  or  in  thick  wrappers,  see  that  your 
faitliful  brute  companion  is  also  protected  from  the  chilly  air. 

(6.)  Wash  the  inside  of  the  collar  frequently  with  castile  soap 
suds,  and  when  it  has  thoroughly  dried,  gently  warm  tlie  leather 
and  soak  it  with  oil,  so  as  to  soften  it.  But  do  not  allow  any  oil 
to  remain  on  the  surface  of  the  leather,  unabsorbed. 

(7.)  If  the  shoulders  are  tender,  feverish,  and  disposed  to  chafe, 
they  should  be  well  rubbed,  and  afterwards  washed  wdth  salt 
water.  This  should  be  done  after  unharnessing,  so  that  the  parts 
batlied  may  be  dry  before  work  is  resumed. 

(8.)  Do  not  be  tempted  by  extra  pay  to  overload  your  team. 
Overloading  occasions  blindness,  spavin,  splint,  glanders,  farcy, 
and  other  painful  and  fatal  disorders,  and  thus  risks  the  loss  of 
your  capital,  besides  injuring  yourself  by  encouraging  a  cruel  dis- 
position. 

(9.)  See  that  the  harness  fits  easily  in  every  part,  and  that  the 
shoes  are  tight  and  well  put  on.     If  there  are  chains  connected 


—  344  — 

with  any  part  of  the  harness,  let  them  be  well  covered  with  soft 
padded  leather  or  fur. 

(10.)  Let  your  tones,  in  addressing  the  horse,  be  alwaj^s  gentle, 
soothing,  and  jDleasant.  Pat  him  often,  and  encourage  every  sign 
of  attachment  that  he  gives. 

(11.)  Ever}^  truck,  or  other  vehicle,  should  have  a  prop  stick 
hung  to  the  shafts,  to  relieve  the  burden  of  the  load  whenever  the 
team  is  standing. 

(12.)  Curry,  rub,  and  clean  well,  and  thoroughl}^  at  least^  once 
every  dav.  The  effect  is  worth  half  the  feed.  A  dirtv  coat  and 
skin,  when  the  animal  is  deprived  of  exercise  in  pasture,  and  of 
rolling  on  the  grass,  cannot  fiiil  to  produce  disease. 

(13.)  Never  use  a  check  rein.  It  is  a  false  taste  that  thinks  a 
horse  more  beautiful  when  his  head  is  fastened  in  an  unnatural 
position.  The  bearing  rein  keeps  a  horse  in  a  constant  fret,  makes 
him  restless  and  uneas}",  and  often  prevents  him  from  recovering 
himself  in  case  of  a  stumble  or  fall. 

(14.)  Your  stable  should  be  perfectly  level,  or  very  slightly  in- 
clined, well  lighted,  well  drained,  well  ventilated,  and  well  pro- 
tected from  draughts,  and  from  extremes  of  heat  and  cold.  Keep 
the  crib  clean  and  free  from  dust,  and  keep  the  hay  and  other  fod- 
der as  far  from  the  stall  as  possible,  so  as  to  be  away  from  the 
steam  and  breath  of  the  animal. 

(15.)  If  you  use  ground  feed,  remember  that  at  man}-  of  the 
mills  and  stores  it  is  adulterated  with  marble  or  plaster  of  paris, 
or  with  the  sweepings  of  canal  boats  and  barges.  Such  adultera- 
tion not  only  robs  your  animals  of  nourishment,  but  produces 
sto7ie,  and  shortens  life. 

(16.)  If  you  suspect  adulteration,  you  can  sometimes  detect  it, 
by  heating  a  portion  of  the  feed  to  a  red  heat,  in  an  iron  vessel. 
After  the  whole  has  been  reduced  to  ashes,  if  they  contain  plaster 
the  ashes  will  soon  set  or  harden,  after  being  mixed  with  water  to 
the  consistenc}^  of  paste. 

(17.)  In  hot  weather,  keep  a  wet  sponge  on  the  head  of  the  horse 
or  mule  ;  cool  the  mouth  and  face  with  wet  s^Donges  ;  furnish  drink- 
ing water  often,  and  sponge  the  legs  and  such  parts  as  are  liable 
to  chafe  by  perspiration  or  otherwise ;  drive  slowly,  and  lessen  the 
weight  usually  imposed  in  cooler  weather;  see  that  the  harness  is 


—  S4S  — 

not  unnecessarily  cumbersome  and  heavy;  the  discomfort  maybe 
materially  relieved  by  taking  off  the  eye-blinds,  which  are  useless 
appendages,  and  cause  much  annoyance  to  the  animal. 

(18.)  Do  not  urge  your  beast  beyond  a  walk  when  the  heat  is 
oppressive ;  finally,  use  a  head-shelter  or  awning,  constructed  of 
wire  and  covered  with  canvas,  which  can  be  attached  to  the 
animal's  head  without  materially  adding  weight. 

(19.)  In  icy  weather  keep  your  animal  sharp  shod,  renewing  the 
sharpening  as  often  as  the  shoes  become  blunt.  A  few  dollars  ex- 
pended in  this  way  will  undoubtedly  save  your  horse  from  serious 
injury,  and,  perhaps,  from  loss  of  life. 

(20.)  Standing  on  fermenting  manure  softens  the  hoof,  produces 
thrush,  and  brings  on  lameness.  Keep  the  litter  dry  and  clean, 
and  cleanse  the  stall  thoroughly  every  morning. 

(21.)  Sharp  bits  make  the  mouth  tender  at  first,  and  afterwards 
callous,  so  that  the  horse  becomes  unmanageable. 

(22.)  If  your  horse  kicks  and  plunges  on  mounting,  look  to  the 
stuffing  of  your  saddle,  and  see  if  it  has  become  hard  and  knotty 
with  use. 

(23.)  Keep  your  wheels  well  greased,  and  thus  reduce  the  labor 
of  drawing  the  load. 

(24.)  Keep  the  feet  well  brushed  out,  and  examine  every  night 
to  see  if  there  is  any  stone  or  dirt  between  the  hoof  and  the  shoe. 
Change  the  shoes  as  often  as  once  a  month. 

(25.)  Disease  or  wounds  in  the  feet  or  legs  soon  become  dan- 
gerous if  neglected. 

(26.)  When  a  horse  is  hot  and  fatigued  from  labor,  walk  him 
about  till  cool ;  groom  him  quite  dry,  first  with  a  wisp  of  straw, 
and  then  with  a  brush  ;  rub  his  legs  well  with  the  hand,  to  remove 
any  strain,  soothe  the  animal,  and  detect  thorns  and  splinters ; 
and  give  him  his  grain  as  soon  as  he  is  cool,  dry,  and  willing  to  eat. 

(27.)  On  the  evening  before  a  long  journey  give  double  feed  ;  on 
*the  morning  of  starting  give  only  half  a  feed  of  grain,  or  a  little 
hay ;  on  the  road  feed  in  small  quantities  about  every  two  hours. 

(28.)  When  horses  are  long  out  at  work  provide  them  with  nose- 
bags and  proper  food.  The  nose  bag  should  be  leather  at  bottom, 
and  of  basket-work  or  open  texture  above.  On  coming  home  give 
a  double  feed  of  grain. 


—  346  — 

(29.)  Lead  the  horse  carefully  into  and  out  of  the  stable.  Accus- 
tom him  to  stand  quite  still  till  you  are  seated.  Start  at  a  walk, 
and  go  slowly  the  first  and  last  mile. 

(30.)  Never  use  the  whip  if  you  can  help  it.  It  will  then  always 
be  available  as  a  last  resource. 

(31.)  Be  always  on  your  guard,  just  feeling  the  mouth  with  the 
bit,  lightly  and  steadily. 

(32.)  If  a  horse  shies,  neither  whip  him  nor  pat  him,  but  speak 
encouragingl}^  and  let  him  come  slowly  towards  the  object. 

(33.)  If  you  value  your  own  life,  the  lives  of  others,  or  your 
horse,  never  drive  fast  in  the  dark,  or  in  a  town. 

(34.)  Xever  add  your  own  w^eight  to  a  load  that  is  already  heavy 
enough.  Get  out  and  walk  when  you  ascend  a  hill.  If  j^ou  stop 
on  a  hill,  put  a  stone  behind  the  wheel. 

(35.)  Never  tease  or  tickle  the  horse. 

(36.)  Don't  forget  that  old  horses,  like  old  men,  lose  their  teeth 
and  their  chewing  abilities ;  therefore,  bruise  the  oats  and  corn, 
and  chop  the  hay  for  the  old  nags  who  can't  get  "  store  teeth." 

Hydrothorax. — This  is  the  name  given  to  water  when  it  accu- 
mulates in  the  chest.  Hence,  hydro,  water:  and  thorax,  the 
chest. 

Causes.  Debilitv  from  the  effects  of  inflammation  of  some  of 
the  organs  within  the  chest. 

Treatment.  Tonics  to  improve  the  general  health,  and  medicines 
to  draw  off  the  water  b}"  the  kid n 6)^8  and  bowels.  An  operation  is 
recommended  by  which  the  fluids  are  drawn  from  the  side  by 
means  of  a  trocar.     (See  Drops3\) 

Hydrocele. — A  collection  of  fluid  in  the  scrotum  of  stallions. 

Treatment.  Paint  the  scrotum  with  the  tincture  of  benzoin  or 
iodine.  If  these  remedies  are  not  successful  in  causing  absorption 
of  the  water,  the  skin  of  the  scrotum  will  have  to  be  opened  to  let 
out  the  fluid. 

Hydronemia. — A  name  used  when  speaking  of  the  blood  when 
it  contains  too  much  water — water  in  the  blood.     (See  Dropsy.) 

Hydrophobia. — This  disease,  happily,  is  rare — in  a  practice  of 
thirteen  years,  and  doing  much  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  of 
horses,  and  being  well  acquainted  with  the  practice  of  other  per- 
sons, I  can  only  record  three  cases,  and  one  of  these  was  a  mule. 


—  347  — 

This  disease  is  sometimes  called  ivater  dread  and  canine  rabies, 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  only  generated  in  tlie  dog  and  feline  species 
of  animals. 

Cause  in  Horses.  Bites  of  the  mad  dog,  and  sometimes  the  bite 
from  the  common  cat  is  capable  of  producing  the  disease. 

Symjitoms.  In  those  cases  that  came  under  my  notice  the 
symptoms  were  anything  but  like  each  other.  In  one  animal,  the 
propensity  to  bite  at  objects  was  more  severe  ;  and  in  another,  the 
horse  would  walk  and  look  about  him,  utter  a  peculiar  sound,  and 
lie  down  and  get  hold  of  the  heels  and  part  of  the  arm  of  the  fore 
leg  with  his  teeth,  till  he  had  them  bleeding,  get  up  again,  and 
walk  about  without  any  apparent  object  in  view.  But  the  de- 
structive impulse  attributed  by  some  authors,  I  think,  is  merely 
the  fancy  of  an  inexperienced  mind  in  such  matters.  The  symp- 
toms of  the  mule  differed  from  each  of  the  horses,  inasmuch  as  he 
would,  at  times,  eat  hay  very  ravenously,  stop  all  at  once,  and 
with  a  peculiar  sound,  not  like  the  bark  of  a  dog,  but  of  a  char- 
acter which  cannot  be  described,  lie  down  and  have  a  good  roll  to 
himself;  then  he  would  run  at  any  person  within  his  reach  with 
open  mouth.  But  in  no  instance  did  any  of  the  cases  attempt  to 
bite  at  anything  not  endowed  with  animal  life.  All  of  these 
animals  w'ere  confined  in  enclosures  from  which  they  could  not 
escape.  They  lived  about  thirty-six  hours  after  the  actual  symptoms 
of  the  disease  set  in.  (See  Bites  of  Mad  Dog.)  Any  person  hav- 
ing the  least  experience  with  horses,  may  observe  peculiarities,  at 
times,  which  do  appear  not  to  belong  to  common  diseases. 

Hypertrophy. — This  name  means  a  state  of  certain  organs  in- 
creased in  size,  and  decreased  in  power.  The  heart,  kidneys, 
spleen,  liver,  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  are  liable  to  this  dis- 
ease. 

Hypodermic. — Under  the  skin.     (See  Endermic.) 

Hysteria. — This  is  a  disease  which  is  sometimes  seen  in  mares 
only. 

Causes.     Irritation  of  the  uterus,  or  of  some  of  its  nerves. 

Symptoms.  Great  excitement  and  incapability  of  standing,  and 
it  appears  as  if  some  of  the  bones  of  the  back  or  loins  were 
broken. 

Treatment.     Give  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root 


-348- 

every  four  hours,  whilst  the  symptom  lasts.  Build  up  the  strength 
of  the  mare  hy  the  following:  Sulphate  of  iron,  three  drachms; 
gentian  root,  three  drachms.  Mix,  and  give  in  one  dose  every 
day,  for  a  week  or  ten  days.     Give  good  feeding. 

Caution.     Unsafe  to  use  ;  will  return  again. 

Indigestion. — However  much  man,  in  the  sedentary  w^alks  of 
life,  may  be  the  subject  of  this  disease,  the  horse  with  a  task-mas- 
ter is  comparatively  free  from  it.  Cases  do  occur,  occasionally,  in 
our  large  cities,  where  in  too  many  cases  the  horse  is  left  standing 
in  the  stable  twenty  out  of  the  twenty-four  hours.  Idleness  be- 
gets indigestion,  and  indigestion  begets  crib-biting,  or  wind-suck- 
ing, and  between  them  the  poor  horse  loses  flesh,  condition  and 
spirit.     (See  Crib-biting.) 

Treatment.  Send  the  horse  to  pasture,  and  when  he  returns  give 
him  regular  feed,  and  regular  work  to  prevent  a  return  of  it. 

Infection. — (See  Contagion.) 

Inflammation. — Inflammation  of  the  various  portions  or  parts 
of  the  body  will  be  found  treated  of  under  the  name  of  the  organ 
or  part  aflected. 

Influenza. — This  is  a  name  which  is  properly  applied  to  an 
epizootic  catarrh  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  spring  of  the  year. 
Indeed,  it  is  verv  rare  that  we  see  a  cold  run  its  course  as  such, 
without  some  complication  of  one  kind  or  another. 

Sijmj^toms.  A  chill  or  shivering  fit,  succeeded  by  increased  heat 
of  the  body,  with  fever  and  irritation.  Loss  of  appetite,  cough, 
discharge  of  miicus  from  the  nose,  watering  of  the  eyes,  great 
prostration  of  strength,  followed  in  a  day  or  two  with  swellings  of 
the  legs,  and  in  bad  cases,  of  the  belly,  breast,  and  in  males,  of 
the  sheath  ;  such  is  a  true  and  succinct  account  of  the  s\'mptoms 
of  this  disease.  The  symptoms  will  vary,  as  in  other  diseases, 
with  the  intensity  of  the  afi'ection. 

Causes.  A  subtle  poison  in  the  air,  sudden  changes  in  the  dry- 
ness or  moisture  of  the  earth's  surface,  easterly  winds,  cold  accom- 
panied with  dampness  in  the  air.  These  are  conditions  wdiich  too 
often  accompany  or  precede  influenza,  which  differs  from  an  at- 
tack of  common  cold,  chiefl}^  in  the  severity  of  its  eff*ect,  causing 
more  fever  and  greater  debility.  In  England  it  was  first  observed 
in  1819,  and  again  in  1832,  and  more  or  less  ever  since.     In  the 


—  349  — 

United  States  it  first  manifestetl  itself  in  1856,  and  is  still  seen 
every  spring  and  fall  with  symptoms  more  or  less  severe. 

Treatmeni.  The  mortality  in  this  disease  is  great,  when  treated 
according  to  the  books  which  our  publishers  frequently  issue — old 
English  books,  with  new  dresses  cut  to  the  fashion.  Bear  this  in 
mind,  when  undertaking  the  treatment  of  a  disease  of  this  kind, 
that  one  step  wrongly,  taken  can  never  be  recalled.  Place  the 
horse  in  a  cool  (not  cold)  and  airy  place,  put  a  light  covering  upon 
him,  and  give  him  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  in 
a  little  cold  water,  every  four  hours,  till  five  doses  are  given. 
Place  plenty  of  cold  water  before  the  horse  so  that  he  can  drink 
as  much  as  he  wants.  When  the  aconite  has  been  all  given  com- 
mence with  fifteen-drop  doses  of  tincture  of  nux  vomica,  which 
repeat  every  four  hours,  continuing  it  for  a  few  days,  and  if  the 
animal  improves,  and  the  appetite  returns,  nothing  more  in  the 
way  of  medicine  need  be  given.  Recovery,  being  slow,  and  the 
appetite  poor,  give  the  following  powders,  morning,  noon  and 
night:  Powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia,  three  ounces;  powdered 
gentian  root,  two  ounces;  powdered  pimenta  berries,  two  ounces; 
mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders,  and  give  them  mixed  in  a 
little  cold  water,  and  drench  the  horse  out  of  a  strong-mouthed 
bottle.  The  powders  will  have  to  be  wrapped  well,  so  as  to  keep 
them  from  the  air,  and  prevent  the  loss  of  their  strength.  Twenty 
drops  of  conimercial  sulphuric  acid  may  be  given  occasionally,  in 
half  a  bucket  of  cold  water,  which  the  horse  will  readily  drink. 
Do  not  apply  blisters  or  anything  to  the  throat,  as  is  too  often 
done;  they  can  do  no  good,  but  positively  much  harm.  Be  as- 
sured the  animal  has  fully  recovered  its  strength  before  putting  to 
work.  If  treated  in  the  manner  described,  in  from  five  to  six 
days  the  horse  will  be  almost  well  again.  (See  Gastritis  Mucosa 
and  Rheumatism.) 

Injections. — These  are  composed  of  warm  water,  soap,  and  a 
handful  of  table  salt ;  the  water  about  luke-warm.  The  usual 
way  to  give  injections,  is  by  means  of  a  large  S3'ringe,  capable  of 
holding  a  quart  of  the  fluid.  The  diseases  which  call  for  injec- 
tions, are  the  various  varieties  of  colic.  Few  medicines  will  cure 
colic  without  the  aid  of  injections ;  whereas,  colic,  in  very  many 
cases,  can  be  readily  cured  by  the  injection  alone.     Therefore, 


—  850  — 

never  put  confidence  in  an 3^  person  who  undertakes  to  cure  colic, 
without  injections  of  warm  water,  soap,  and  salt. 

Intestines. — Introsusception,  or  an  entangling  of  the  intestines, 
sometimes  takes  pkice  in  horses,  and  proves  fatal. 

Causes.     Bowels  empty,  and  the  horse  being  driven  fast. 

Symptom.  When  the  horse  comes  in,  he  is  observed  to  be  un- 
easy— lying  down,  pawing  with  his  feet,  following  closely  the 
symptoms  of  colic.  The  difficulty  or  impossibility  of  procuring 
relief,  is  only  seen  on  examination,  after  the  horse  is  dead.  (See 
Bowel  Diseases.) 

Itch. — (See  Mange  and  Skin  Diseases.) 

Interfering. — This  name  is  in  use  when  speaking  of  a  horse  hit- 
ting himself  on  the  inside  of  the  pastern  joint,  either  on  the  hind 
or  fore  leg.  Sometimes  it  is  called  cutting.  It  is  usually  done 
with  the  side  of  the  opposite  foot. 

Causes.  The  blacksmith  is  many  times  wrongfully  blamed  for 
want  of  attention  or  skill  in  shoeing  the  horse,  because  he  inter- 
feres. Tliere  are  cases,  no  doubt,  where  a  little  observation  and 
care,  on  the  part  of  the  shoer,  would  have  prevented  it.  From 
much  observation,  however,  I  am  satisfied  that  the  chief  cause 
lies  in  the  weakness  of  the  horse,  particularly  in  the  spring  of  the 
year.  Horsemen  well  know  that  their  horses  did  not  interfere  in 
the  winter  months,  when  the  weather  was  not  oppressive,  and  the 
horse  in  excellent  spirits ;  and  no  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
shoer  or  manner  of  shoeing. 

Treatment.  Give  a  few  powders  of  iron  and  gentian  in  the  feed, 
to  restore  the  horse  to  strength.     (See  Medicines.) 

Jack. — A  small  point  on  the  inside  of  the  hock -joint  of  the 
horse,  affected  with  bone  spavin. 

Jaundice. — This  signifies  bile  in  the  blood;  biliary  intoxi- 
cation, tinging  the  membranes  of  the  nose,  mouth,  etc.,  with  a 
vellow  color. 

Joint  Diseases. — The  diseases  of  the  various  joints  in  the  horse, 
are  many.  Among  them  may  be  enumerated  :  Of  spavin — bone, 
blood,  bog  and  occult — four  varieties,  all  of  the  hock -joint ;  of  the 
patella,  in  the  form  of  dislocation  ;  of  the  hip,  or  whirhbone  joint, 
ulceration  and  sprain ;  of  the  joints  of  the  back-bones,  caries  and 
ulcerations;  of  the  foot,  coffin-joint,  commonly  called  navicular 


—  351  — 

joint,  lameness  ;  of  the  pastern-joints,  anchylosis  or  stiff-joint;  of 
the  lower  pastern,  ring-bone ;  of  the  knee-joint,  stiffness  and  open 
joint ;  of  the  point  of  the  shoulders,  ulceration  and  bulging  out 
of  the  capsular  ligament  of  the  joint :  wind  galls,  of  almost  all 
the  joints,  more  speciall}'  in  the  pasterns.  The  cause  and  treat- 
ment of  these  aflfections  will  be  found  under  their  proper  heads, 
throughout  the  book. 

Jugular  Vein,  Inflammation  of. — This  may  be  merely  a  sim- 
ple swelling,  after  bleeding,  caused  by  bruising  the  parts,  by  too 
great  force  applied  when  bleeding,  or  by  closing  the  wound  too 
tightly,  causing  extravasation  of  blood,  between  the  skin  and  the 
fascia.  Inflammation  of  the  jugular  may  be  of  great  magnitude, 
involving  that  vessel  the  whole  length  of  the  neck,  above  and  be- 
low the  wound  made  by  bleeding,  ultimately  causing  its  entire 
obliteration.  And,  occasionally,  the  inflammation  extends  to  the 
brain  itself,  destroying  life.  Happily,  bleeding  is  not  now  recom- 
mended in  the  treatment  of  disease;  consequently,  this  affection 
will  be  among  the  diseases  of  the  past. 

Treatment.  Remove  the  pin,  or  whatever  has  been  used  to  close 
the  wound,  and  apply  a  piece  of  blue-stone  to  the  bleeding  sore ; 
this  may  be  used,  once  a  day,  for  a  da}^  or  two.  Hot  fomen- 
tations, or  a  small  poultice,  should  be  applied  to  the  part,  to  abate 
inflammation  or  irritation.  The  fomentation  will  have  to  be  ap- 
l)lied  the  whole  length  of  the  thick  corded  vein,  to  cause  its  re- 
laxation. Cut  the  feed  for  the  horse,  so  as  to  save  the  movements 
of  the  jaws,  thus  giving  rest,  as  much  as  possible,  to  the  parts  af- 
fected. 

Kidneys,  Diseases  of  the. — The  most  important  of  which  is 
that  already  described  under  the  head  of  diabetes  (which  see). 
Hsematuria  or  bloody  urine  is  occasionally  seen  in  horses,  more 
frequently  in  cattle,  and  consists  in  a  diseased  state  of  the  kidneys, 
from  violent  strains  or  accidents. 

Calculi,  or  stones  in  the  kidneys,  are  often  found  in  the  kidneys 
of  horses,  and  cause  considerable  irregularity  in  making  water. 

Treatment.  Occasionally  give  thirty  to  forty  drops  of  muriatic 
acid,  in  a  bucket  of  cold  water,  to  drink. 

Bloody  urine  may  be  treated  by  warm -water  cloths,  laid  over 
the  back  or  in  a  situation  above  the  kidneys.     Use  flaxseed  tea 


—  352  — 

as  a  drink,  to  soothe  the  parts.  Give  no  saltpetre  or  other  medi- 
cines. 

In  old  horses,  as  in  old  men,  considerable  chronic  disease  of  the 
kidneys  exists.  Although  little  can  be  accomplished  in  the  way 
of  cure  by  medicines,  a  great  deal  can  be  done  to  soothe  the  parts, 
by  soft  and  soothing  feed  and  drink,  such  as  steamed  or  boiled 
feed  and  flaxseed  tea,  cut  grass  and  other  green  feed,  with  plenty 
of  cold  water,  at  all  times  to  drink.  The  more  fluids  that  go  into 
the  body,  the  less  irritation  of  the  bladder  and  kidneys.  (See 
Bladder  Diseases.) 

Knees  Broken. — (See  Broken  knees.) 

Knee  Joints,  Loose  Cartilages  in  the. — Small  loose  cartilage 
is  sometimes  found  floating  in  the  knee-joint  of  horses,  as  well  as 
of  man,  and  is  the  cause  of  much  of  the  obscure  lameness  that  is 
so  often  unaccounted  for,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  has  never 
been  noticed  by  other  writers.  The  lameness  is  very  sudden,  and 
passes  off  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  constantly  coming  and 
going. 

Treatment.  Remove  the  body  from  the  joint  by  first  getting  it 
into  a  corner  and  holding  it  there,  and  cutting  and  taking  it  out ; 
this  is  too  dangerous  an  operation  for  every  person  to  undertake, 
as  it  is  cutting  into  a  synovial  cavity. 

Knuckling.  This  is  a  peculiar  loose  double  action  of  the 
pastern  of  the  hind  legs,  and  is  a  symptom  rather  than  a  disease 
of  itself. 

Cause.  Disease  of  the  hock-joint,  and  weakness  in  the  part 
from  the  effects  of  sprains,  or  otlier  injury.  It  also  accompanies 
occult  and  bone  spavin. 

Observe.  Knuckling  of  the  hind  pasterns  is  a  symptom  strongly 
indicative  that  the  animal  has  had  an  attack  of  paral3^sis  or  is 
likely  to  have  one ;  at  all  events  it  clearly  shows  that  either  the 
brain  or  spinal  cord  is  to  a  certain  extent  diseased,  resulting  in 
loss  of  motive  power  in  tlie  pasterns. 

Treatment.  Feed  the  horse  well,  and  give  fifteen  drops  of  the 
tincture  of  nux  vomica  three  times  in  the  day.  If  the  hock-joint 
be  the  cause,  treat  the  hocks  as  for  spavin,  or  palliate  the  symp- 
toms by  applying  two  parts  of  olive  oil,  and  one  part  of  creosote 
and  oil  of  turpentine,  two  to  three  times  in  the  week. 


—  353  — 

Lameness. — Lameness  occurs  in  many  ways,  and  from  many 
causes,  such  as  fractures,  bruises,  sprains,  wounds  or  injuries,  all 
of  which  will  be  found  treated  of,  under  their  various  names, 
through  the  book. 

Laminitis. — A  name  in  use  by  veterinar}^  surgeons  when 
spe.'iking  of  founder,  and  is  a  generic  term  from  lamina,  or  leaf — 
which  forms  tlie  bond  of  unity  between  the  sensible  and  insen- 
sible structures  of  the  horse's  feet,  and  is  the  seat  of  the  disease 
commonly  called  founder.     (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Lampas. — This  is  a  name  applied  to  a  slight  enlargement, 
swelling,  or  fulness  of  the  bars  of  the  mouth  of  young  horses 
from  the  chane^es  of  teethinor.  Pinchino;  the  skin  of  the  bars  with 
the  nail  of  the  thumb  till  they  bleed,  and  rubbing  in  a  little  table 
salt,  is  much  better  than  burning  the  mouth  with  a  red-hot  iron 
— the  effects  of  which  the  animal  never  forgets  nor  forgives,  as  is 
shown  in  any  attempt  to  do  anything  about  his  head. 

Laryngitis. — This  is  a  disease  or  inflammation  of  the  upper 
portion  of  the  windpipe,  accompanied  with  fever,  increased 
breathing,  and  cough.  The  cause  and  treatment  of  this  disease 
will  be  the  same  as  for  bronchitis  (which  see). 

Leg,  Fractures  of  the. — (See  Fractures.) 

Lice. — Lice  of  various  kinds  are  often  the  source  of  much 
trouble  amongst  horses  kept  in  the  vicinity  of  hen  or  chicken 
houses. 

Sijmptoms.  Uneasiness,  rubbing,  and  scratching;  stamping 
with  the  feet  and  biting  at  the  legs,  as  if  something  were  annoying 
him. 

Treatment.  Take  of  the  liver  of  sulphur,  one  ounce ;  cold  water, 
one  pint.  Mix,  and  apply  with  a  hard  brush  to  but  a  portion  of 
the  body  at  a  time.  If  that  is  not  effectual,  get  bi-chloride  of 
mercury,  thirty -two  grains;  cold  water,  one  pint.  Mix,  and  ap- 
ply with  a  brush  to  a  portion  only  at  a  time,  or  a  piece  of  the 
body  every  day,  till  all  has  been  gone  over  with  the  brush.  This 
is  very  weak,  and  can  do  the  horse  no  harm. 

Ligaments. — These  are  strong,  fibrous  substances,  which  bind 
together  the  different  bones  of  the  body  or  skeleton.     There  are 
two  great  classes  of  ligaments  ;  the  rounded,  or  the  lateral,  and 
23 


—  354  — 

the  capsular,  or  sack-like  ligaments,  as  of  the  shoulder  and  hip- 
joint. 

Lipoma. — A  variety  of  fatty  tumor.     (See  Tumors.) 

Liver. — The  liver  is  the  largest  secreting  gland  of  the  body, 
situated  within  the  short  ribs  on  the  right  side.  Its  function  is 
the  secretion  of  bile — a  ^^ellow  alkaline  or  soapy  fluid. 

Without  the  liver,  digestion  and  animal  heat  cannot  be  main- 
tained, and  the  waste  or  effete  matter  cannot  be  removed  from  the 
blood.  So,  therefore,  when  the  liver  is  disturbed,  there  can  be  no 
health  in  the  rest  of  the  system. 

Inflammation  of  the  Liver. — The  horse  is  rarely  the  subject  of 
inflammation  of  this  organ  in  an  acute,  but  more  commonly  in  a 
chronic  form.  It  is  often  met  with  from  the  fact  of  many  horses 
being  highly  fed,  and  having  nothing  to  do. 

Symptoms.  The  affected  part  is  very  obtuse.  But  we  have  a  very 
striking  analogy  of  this  disease  between  man  and  the  horse,  which 
materiall}^  assists  in  forming  a  correct  opinion  as  to  the  disease. 
Pain  and  lameness  in  the  right  shoulder  are  characteristic  of  liver 
disease,  whether  in  man  or  horse,  and  have  often  been  mistaken 
for  and  treated  as  the  disease  itself.  Not  less  so  is  the  peculiar 
yellowness  of  the  membranes  of  the  eyes,  nose  and  mouth,  con- 
stituting a  disease  called  by  old  horse  doctors  the  yellows. 

Treatment.  Give  powdered  aloes,  four  drachms;  powdered 
ginger  root,  two  drachms;  podophyllin,  one  drachm.  Mix,  and 
make  into  a  paste  with  molasses,  and  form  a  bolus,  or  crumble 
the  mass  in  a  little  thin  gruel,  and  drench  the  horse  with  it.  Feed 
the  horse  with  green  and  soft  feed  to  keep  the  bowels  open. 

These  measures  being  neglected,  suppuration  or  an  abscess  will 
be  formed,  and  break  into  the  bowels,  or  become  absorbed  and 
produce  glanders,  which  I  believe  to  be  a  prolific  cause  of  this 
disease,  and  which  is  preceded  by  ill  health  and  bad  habit  of 
body,  terminating  by  a  mysterious  and  unaccountable  discharge 
from  the  nose,  inasmuch  as  it  is  not  accompanied  with  cough,  and 
other  symptoms  of  cold. 

Locked-jaw. — This  disease  occurs  usually  after  wounds  of  the 
feet,  as  from  nails  running  into  the  feet,  from  wounds  and  frac- 
tures, and  from  a  simple  wound  of  a  tendinous  portion  of  the  body. 
Locked-jaw  occurring  after  wounds  or  other  injuries,  is  called  trau- 


—  355  — 

malic.  And  when  locked-jaw  takes  place,  as  it  sometimes  does, 
without  any  injury  or  assignable  cause,  it  is  called  idiopathic 
locked-jaw.  Locked-jaw  may  be  defined  a  spasmodic  contraction  of 
the  muscles  of  the  body,  often  confined  to  one  set  of  muscles  alone. 
I  have  in  practice  seen  the  same  contraction  in  one  set  of  muscles 
of  the  body,  and  the  muscles  of  the  jaw  free  from  the  cramps  and 
not  fixed  at  all,  and  depending  upon  the  same  causes  that  often 
produce  fixedness  of  the  jaw.  Locked-jaw  is  sometimes  confined 
to  the  muscles  of  the  neck,  and  is  then  called  trismus. 

Symptoms.  The  symptoms  accompanying  locked-jaw  in  the  horse 
are  so  well  known  to  everybody,  that  little  need  be  said  by  me 
about  them  further  than  that  there  is  general  stifi'ness  and  fixed- 
ness in  the  manner  of  standing,  and  a  peculiar  expression  of  coun- 
tenance. The  extended  and  dilated  nostril,  and  the  fixed  ear,  tell 
the  fact,  very  plainly,  that  the  muscles  of  the  head  and  neck  are 
beyond  the  control  of  the  animal,  else  his  jaw  or  mouth  would  not 
be  kept  closed. 

Treattnent.  Remove  the  painfully-stricken  animal  into  a  place 
by  himself,  where  he  will  have  plenty  of  air,  and  no  sound  or  sight 
to  disturb  him,  and  where  no  curious  idler  can  enter.  Place  a 
bucket  of  cold,  thin  gruel  where  the  horse  can  get  at  it,  without  an 
eff*ort  to  himself  to  reach  it.  This  is  all  the  feed  he  will  be  likely 
enabled  to  take  for  a  period  of  from  three  to  sixteen  days.  Renew 
it  once  a  day,  and  keep  it  sweet.  He  may  be  able  to  suck  this 
through  his  teeth.  Small,  choice  morsels  of  other  food  should  also 
be  placed  within  his  reach,  so  as  no  opportunity  be  lost  whereby 
his  stomach  may  be  filled,  and  his  overtaxed  strength  be  sup- 
ported. 

In  securing  the  gruel  or  other  feed,  have  everything  at  hand,  so 
that  07ily  one  journey  will  be  necessary,  in  the  twenty-four  hours, 
to  the  place  he  is  confined  in.  Open  not  the  door  of  his  house 
twice  when  once  can  be  made  to  answer:  thus  much  suffering  may 
be  avoided,  and  the  chances  of  recovery  enhanced.  All  the  med- 
icine necessary  for  the  horse  to  have,  will  be  one  drachm  .doses, 
once  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  of  prussic  acid.  Great  care  will 
have  to  be  exercised  in  keeping  this  powerful  poison;  and  consid- 
erable judgment  as  to  how  this  medicine  is  to  be  given  to  an 
animal  with  his  jaws  closed.     Gently  elevate  the  head  a  little  to 


—  356  — 

insure  proper  gravitation,  and  pour  the  acid  into  the  widest  part 
between  his  teeth,  and  hold  the  head  steadily  for  a  few  minutes ; 
then  retire,  and  close  the  door,  not  a  loud  word  being  spoken.  A 
table  or  dessert  spoon  will  answer  for  the  purpose  very  well.  Vet- 
erinary surgeons  have  an  elastic  tube,  which  is  introduced  into  the 
back  part  of  the  mouth,  and  the  acid  poured  down  the  tube. 

If  the  animal  live  from  three  to  four  days,  and  is  afforded  every 
opportunity  to  eat  a  little,  he  may  get  well.  Whatever  the  wounds 
or  injuries  that  have  given  rise  to  the  locked-jaw,  they  should  be 
dressed  with  equal  portions  of  olive  oil  and  creosote,  which  will 
soothe  the  irritated  nerves  of  the  part.  An  occasional  poultice  of 
flaxseed  may  be  necessary. 

Above  all  things,  neither  bleed  nor  physic,  as  these  can  do  no 
good,  and  will  only  hasten  the  death  of  the  animal  by  taking 
awa}^  whatever  strength  he  may  have,  all  of  which  will  be  neces- 
sary to  carry  him  through  so  severe  a  disease. 

Loins. — Sprain  of  the  loins  or  small  of  the  back  is  sometimes 
seen  in  w-eakly  built  horses  of  irritable  disposition. 

Symptom,  ^^^eakness  upon  pressure,  as  of  a  saddle-horse  yield- 
ing to  the  rider,  when  mounting  the  horse. 

Treatment.  Warm-water  cloths  should  be  laid  over  the  parts  for 
a  few  days,  followed  in  the  same  manner  by  cold-water  cloths. 
Give  rest  and  good  feed,  and  use  the  horse  in  the  shafts  of  a  light 
four-wheeled  carriage,  or  in  double  harness.  Saddle  work  may  be 
the  means  of  its  return,  more  especially  if  ridden  by  a  heavy 
person. 

Loss  of  Appetite. — This  is  more  of  a  symptom  than  a  disease, 
and  requires  for  its  removal  the  cause  which  gave  rise  to  it.  In 
cold,  influenza  and  fever,  the  appetite  is  bad,  and  with  their  re- 
moval it  will  be  restored.  Take  powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia, 
pimenta  berries,  gentian  root,  each  two  drachms,  mix  in  some 
cold  gruel,  and  drench  the  animal  twice  a  day.  This  will  not  only 
remove,  in  a  measure,  the  cause,  but  will  restore  the  appetite  also. 

Lumbago. — This  is  applied  to  a  peculiar  stiffness  over  the  loins 
or  Ijack.  partaking  of  the  nature  of  rheumatism  (which  see). 

Lungs. — These  are  the  organs  of  breathing,  and  are  subject  to 
many  diseases,  having  names  familiar  to  every  horseman.  Under 
this  head,  however,  I  will  only  notice  inflammation  of  the  sub- 


—  857  — 

stance  of  the  lungs,  'pneumonia  (lung  fever),  and  of  the  surface  of 
the  lung,  'pleurisy^  abscess,  adhesion,  and  congestion.  (See  Cougli, 
Cold,  Bronchitis,  and  Emplu'sema.) 

(1.)  P.NEUMONIA. — {Pronounced  numonia.) — Tliis  is  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  substance  of  the  lungs,  of  late  years  called  lung  fever, 
and  is  sometimes  very  common  in  the  spring  after  a  severe  winter. 

Symptoms.  Chill  followed  by  fever  and  increased  for  a  short 
time,  and  is  succeeded  by  cold  legs  and  ears,  quickened  breathing, 
and  wide,  open  nostrils.  A  peculiar  quivering  of  the  muscles  of 
the  side  and  breast  will  be  observed  in  all  cases  of  imflammation 
of  the  lungs,  and  will  rarely  deceive.  The  animal  will  eat  nothing, 
and  persistently  stands  with  his  nose  and  mouth  in  the  manger ; 
and  if  taken  out  of  the  stall  and  stable  to  the  open  air,  he  will  almost 
refuse  to  go  back  again  into  the  stable,  relief  being  experienced 
from  the  fresh  air.  Hence,  the  necessity  for  plenty  of  fresh  air  in 
all  diseases  of  the  lungs.  When  the  ear  is  applied  to  the  side  of 
the  neck,  a  peculiar  creaking  noise  is  heard.  Slight  discharge  of 
serous  flakes  or  matter  will  be  observed  sticking  to  the  sides  of  the 
nose.  If  this  disease  be  not  subdued  or  cured,  it  ends  in  abscess. 
The  peculiar  pulsations  observed  in  this  and  other  diseases,  wdll 
be  found  treated  of  in  the  introductory  remarks.  To  the  non-pro- 
fessional person,  the  general  aspect  or  appearance  of  the  horse, 
when  under  this  disease,  is  infinitely  more  important  as  a  rule  and 
guide  in  determining  the  seat  and  nature  of  the  disease,  than  any 
assistance  they  can  gain  from  the  pulse. 

Cause.  Alterations  and  sudden  changes  in  heat,  cold,  and 
moisture;  an  animal  not  in  condition  for  work;  a  hereditary  pre- 
disposition in  the  lungs  to  take  on  disease.  Changes  which  will 
produce  lung  disease  in  one  horse  will  produce  disease  of  a  differ- 
ent character  in  another. 

Treatment.  Place  the  horse  in  a  light  and  airy  place,  and  clothe 
him  according  to  the  weather.  Bandages  to  the  legs  will,  at  all 
seasons,  be  necessary  to  keep  them  warm,  and  to  that  extent  re- 
lieve the  lungs  of  a  portion  of  blood.  Aconite,  judiciously  given, 
is  the  most  powerful  remedy  I  am  acquainted  with.  Tartar 
emetic,  so  valuable  in  this  disease  in  man,  dogs  and  swine,  has  no 
more  effect  whatever  upon  either  horses,  sheep  or  cattle,  than  so 
much  flour  or  meal.     Give  twenty-five   drops  of  the  tincture   of 


—  358  — 

aconite  root,  in  a  cupful  of  cold  water,  and  drench  the  horse. 
Repeat  the  dose  ever\^  four  hours,  till  six  doses  are  given.  In  the 
majority  of  cases,  one  or  two  doses  will  be  all  that  is  required  to 
effect  a  cure. 

(2.)  Pleurisy, — Inflammation  of  the  membrane  covering  the 
lungs  and  lining  the  cavity  of  the  chest. 

Symj)toms.  A  rigor  or  chill,  fever,  disinclination  to  turn  short, 
an  occasional  short  painful  cough,  and  careful  breathing,  accom- 
panied with  a  sigh  or  grunt.  A  peculiar  line  will  be  observed  in 
pleurisy,  running  from  the  haunch,  round  the  belly  to  the  breast- 
bone. The  breathing  is  deep,  not  so  short  and  quick  as  in  inflam- 
mation of  the  lungs.  In  the  first  twenty-four  hours  after  the  at- 
tack, pain  will  have  given  way,  and  the  horse  be  apparently  better. 
This,  in  the  majority  of  cases  of  pleurisy,  wlien  left  a  few  hours  to 
itself  and  not  checked,  terminates  in  Hydroihorax  (which  see),  or 
water  or  serum  in  the  chest,  sometimes  causing  adhesions.  The 
favorable  termination  of  pleurisy  is  by  what  is  called  resolution. 

Causes.  Changes  in  the  atmosphere.  Exposure  to  cold.  Bro- 
ken ribs  or  wounds. 

Treatment.  Treat  the  horse  as  for  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
by  giving  him  pure  air,  cold  water  and  aconite;  followed  on  the 
second  day  by  five  grains  of  powdered  Spanish  fly  in  gruel,  once 
in  the  twenty-four  hours.  To  remove  the  fluids  from  the  body, 
give,  after  the  active  stage  of  the  disease  has  passed,  good  feeding 
and  generous  diet. 

(3.)  Abscess. — As  elsewdiere  stated,  abscess  is  the  termination 
of  the  inflammation  of  the  lungs.  Pus  is  a  common  result  of  in- 
flammatory action,  and  when  in  the  lungs  is  called  vomicae,  causing, 
in  some  cases,  consumption.  Where  absorption  of  the  pus  has 
taken  place,  glanders  is  the  result. 

The  abscess  frequently  breaks  into  the  bronchial  tubes,  and  then 
pus  escapes  into  the  larynx  and  nares  of  the  nose.  Hence  the  per- 
sistent discharge  which  is  so  characteristic  of  glanders. 

Treatment.  The  same  as  for  glandei's  ;  generous  diet,  tonics,  and 
stimulants,  with  the  sulphite  of  soda  and  the  Spanish  fly.  (See 
Glanders.) 

(4.)  Effusion  of  Serum. — Hydrothorax  is  one  of  the  ways  in 
which  pleurisy  terminates,  and  when  this  eff'usion  is  extensive, 


—  859  — 

not  much  hope  of  recovery  may  he  expected.  Cures,  however, 
liave  been  made  by  drawing  off  the  fluid  b}^  means  of  a  trocar 
pierced  through  between  the  ribs  into  the  chest. 

(5.)  Adhesions. — The  surface  of  the  lungs  becomes  attached  to 
the  sides  of  the  chest  by  fibrous  bands  of  great  strength,  another 
common  result  of  pleurisy.  Nothing  can  be  done  but  to  keep  up 
tlie  liealth  and  strength  by  good  feeding,  etc. 

When  animals  do  not  thrive  and  pick  up  their  spirits  and  flesh 
after  pleurisy,  some  of  these  various  conditions  may  be  reasonably 
exjiected  to  be  present. 

(6.)  Co\gp:stion  of  the  Lungs. — The  lungs  are  liable  to  become 
congested,  when  they  are  overcharged  with  blood. 

Symptoms.  The  horse  blows,  his  nostrils  are  very  much  ex- 
panded, he  is  heaving  at  the  flanks,  and  is  the  picture  of  distress 
and  stupidity. 

Cause.  AVeakness  and  want  of  power  in  the  blood  vessels  to 
contract  and  empty  themselves. 

Treatment.  Allow  free  access  to  cool  air,  clothe  the  body  and 
bandage  the  legs  to  encourage  the  blood  to  the  skin  and  legs,  and 
give  the  following  mixture:  Sweet  spirits  of  nitre,  half  an  ounce; 
powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia,  half  an  ounce  ;  mix  in  a  bottle 
of  cold  gruel,  in  the  form  of  a  drink.  If  these  articles  are  not 
at  hand,  give  two  bottles  of  warm  ale  or  half  a  bottle  of  brandy 
or  whisky. 

(7.)  Pneumothorax. — So  called,  because  the  air  escapes  into 
the  cavities  of  the  pleura. 

Lymph. — This  is  a  name  applied  to  the  clear  fluid  which  cir- 
culates in  the  lymphatic  vessels  and  that  which  is  poured  out  in 
cut  surfaces,  after  bleeding  has  stopped,  and  forms  the  medium  by 
which  the  parts  adhere,  and  are  joined  together.  In  this  instance 
it  is  termed  coagulable  lymph,  the  principal  element  by  whicli  ad- 
hesive inflammation  is  carried  on. 

Lymphangitis. — This  is  a  disease  which  attacks  large  coarse- 
bred  horses  that  are  difficult  to  keep  in  good  condition,  and  con- 
sists in  the  outpouring  of  plastic  lymph  into  the  femoral  veins  of 
one  of  the  fore  legs,  which,  as  a  consequence,  swells  to  a  very 
great  size,  and  exhibits  to  the  touch  a  feeling  of  a  great  many  ir- 
regular prominences  under  the  skin.     It  is  hot,  painful,  stifl',  and 


—  360  — 

accompanied  with  fever,  which  in  a  short  time  passes  off.  In  a 
few  days  the  heat,  pain  and  swelling  will  diminish  a  little,  and  the 
horse  will  move  more  freely,  but  will,  in  most  cases,  retain  a 
"  thick  leg  "  for  life.  Fomentations  of  warm  water  should  be  ap- 
plied to  relieve  heat,  tension  and  pain ;  to  be  followed  in  a  few 
days  with  broad  bandages  tightl}'  rolled  round  the  limb.  Give 
soft  feed,  such  as  cut  mess,  bran  and  green  food.  As  soon  as  the 
animal  can  move  the  leg,  he  may  be  put  to  slow  work. 
^  Madness. — A  disease  produced  by  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog. 
(See  Hydrophobia.) 

Mad  Staggers. — An  affection  of  the  brain.     (See  Staggers.) 

Maggots. — These  are  sometimes  seen  in  neglected  wounds  and 
sores,  in  warm  weather.  To  remove  them  apply  equal  parts  of 
creosote  and  olive  oil,  or  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate. 

Malignant. — A  term  applied  to  diseases  of  a  fatal  character,  as 
glanders,  for  instance.  Why  the  term  malignant  should  not  be 
applied  to  such  diseases  as  locked-jaw  and  inflammation  of  the 
bowels,  which  are  so  often  fatal,  is  one  of  the  inexplicables  of 
medical  nosology  or  terminology,  not  easily  for  me  to  understand. 

Malignant  Epidemic. — English  writers  tell  us  that  a  malignant 
epidemic  has  attacked  horses  on  the  European  continent.  In- 
fluenza is  a  disease  from  which  scarcely  one  per  cent,  should  die 
when  scientifically  and  intelligently  treated;  but  by  bleeding, 
blistering,  physicking,  and  low  diet,  a  really  simple  and  non-fatal 
disease  is  at  once  converted  into  a  fatal  and  malignant  epidemic. 

Mallenders. — A  term  used  by  old  books  and  horse  doctors,  to 
designate  a  scaly  condition  of  the  skin  back  of  the  leg  and  opposite 
to  the  knee.  A  term  which  certainly,  to  say  the  least,  should  long 
ago  have  been  blotted  out  of  all  the  books,  as  vague,  uncertain, 
unmeaning. 

This  scaly  eruption  is  the  result  of  dryness  of  the  skin  of  the 
back  part  of  the  leg,  where  the  greatest  and  almost  constant  move- 
ment of  the  joint  is  going  on.  The  same  condition  is  seen  on  the 
face  of  some  joints,  and  in  others  on  the  back,  from  the  constant 
mobility  of  the  parts. 

Who  has  not  seen  scruffy  or  scaly  heels  of  horses  ending  with 
scratches?     (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Mange. — This  is  a  disease  of  the  skin,  and  is  caused  by  a  small 


—  361- 

inite  ciiUeJ  acari,  which  breeds  and  Ijurrows  in  the  skin.  To  cure 
mange,  destroy  the  insect.     (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Materia  Medica. — This  is  a  name  applied  to  every  substance 
used  in  the  treatment  and  cure  of  disease. 

Megrims. — A  disease  of  the  brain  occurring  at  periods,  es- 
pecially in  hot  weather,  and  when  exposed  to  a  powerful  sun. 
This  differs  from  epilepsy  only  in  the  absence  of  spasms.  (See 
Epilepsy.) 

Cmises.  Tumors  in  the  choroid  plexus  and  enlargement  of  the 
pineal  gland. 

Treatment.  Merely  palliative,  by  using  a  Dutch  collar,  so  as  not 
to  interfere  w'ith  the  circulation  of  the  blood  from  the  head. 

Observe.  In  summer  the  horses  subject  to  brain  disease,  or  fits 
of  an}^  kind,  should  not  be  used  for  family  purposes.  In  winter 
they  will  make  useful  animals. 

Melanosis. — A  variety  of  cancer  peculiar  to  gray  horses,  which 
turns  white  with  age,  and  is  caused  by  the  transfer  of  the  coloring 
pigment  from  the  skin  to  the  blood.     (See  Cancer.) 

Melanoid. — (See  Cancer  and  Tumors.) 

Mesentery. — A  membrane  formed  of  two  folds  of  the  peri- 
toneum, between  each  of  which  there  are  numerous  glands,  lac- 
teals,  lymphatics,  arteries,  veins  and  nerves.  It  is  called  the 
mesentery,  because  it  adheres  to  three  lumbar  vertebrae,  and  has 
the  small  intestines  hanging  to  it.  One  portion  of  it  is  called  the 
mescolon — supporter  of  the  colon — and  another  the  mesorectum, 
which  encloses  the  rectum. 

Mesenterica. — Wasting  of  the  mesentery  is  a  disease  which  is 
not  very  connnon  to  horses,  although  some  clearly  marked  cases 
are  sometimes  seen,  characterized  by  wasting  of  the  body,  w^eak- 
ness,  and  general  debility  of  the  whole  system.  Bowels  irregular, 
sometimes  soft,  at  other  times  hard,  of  a  pale  or  straw  color,  and 
frequently  of  bad  smell.  All  that  can  be  done  is  to  keep  the 
strength  and  condition  of  the  horse  up  by  iron  and  gentian,  so 
frequently  recommended  throughout  the  book. 

Metastasis. — A  term  denoting  a  change  or  shifting  of  disease 
from  one  part  of  :he  body  to  another,  as  is  well  illustrated  in  cases 
of  rheumatism. 

Moon  Blindness. — (See  Eye  Diseases.) 


—  362  — 

Mortification. — Death  of  a  part.     (See  Gangrene.) 

Moribund. — A  term  in  use,  and  np}>lied  when  men  or  animals 
are  in  a  dying  condition. 

Mouth,  Diseases  of  the. — These  are  but  few  ;  perhaps  the  ir- 
regularities of  the  teeth  are  the  most  important.  So  much  is  this 
tlie  case,  tliat  from  diseased  or  carious  teeth,  an  affection  arises, 
to  many  external  appearances,  similar  to  glanders;  and  horses 
have  accordingly  been  destroyed,  whereas,  if  a  carious  tooth,  pro- 
ducing a  stinking  discharge  from  the  nose,  had  been  removed^ 
these  appearances  would  have  passed  off.  The  edges  of  the  teeth 
of  horses,  at  all  ages,  are  apt  to  become  sharp,  and  cut  or  wound 
the  inside  of  the  mouth,  and  interfere  with  mastication  or  chew- 
ing. When  horses  are  off  their  feed  and  losing  flesh,  it  will  be 
well  to  have  the  teeth  examined.  To  remedy  any  irregularity  of 
the  grinders,  a  rasp,  or  file,  with  a  concave  surface  and  long  handle, 
is  used  to  make  the  teeth  smooth  and  level.  Wolf  teeth  are  su- 
pernumerary, but  do  no  injury  to  either  the  mouth  or  eyes. 

(1.)  Scald  Mouth. — Another  simple  afiection  of  the  mouth, 
which  is  characterized  by  the  horse  slobbering  or  frothing  from 
the  mouth,  as  if  salivated.     In  aggravated  cases  fever  is  present. 

Ttxatment.  Give  ten  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  in  a 
little  cold  water  three  times  in  the  day,  for  48  hours,  and  allow 
the  horse  to  have  a  bucket  of  cold  water  suspended  or  placed  be- 
fore him,  to  cool  his  mouth  in. 

(2.)  Wounds  of  the  Tongue. — Should  be  treated  the  same  way, 
but  without  the  aconite.  If  the  tongue  is  nearly  cut  through,  have 
the  cut  portion  entirely  removed.  The  horse  can  do  wonderfully 
well  without  a  large  part  of  his  tongue. 

(3.)  Black  Tongue. — This  is  not  a  disease,  but  the  effect  of  a 
simple  and  non-fatal  affection,  frequenth^  treated  by  bleeding,  blis- 
tering and  physicking — destroying  vitality,  and  inducing  mortifi- 
cation of  the  tongue,  as  well  as  of  other  portions  of  the  bod}^ 

(4.)  Aphthous  Thrush. — Soreness  of  the  mouth,  with  white 
patches  on  the  tongue,  inside  the  cheeks  and  roof  of  the  mouth. 
In  man,  this  condition  of  the  mouth  is  called  stomatitis. 

Causes.     Bad  condition  of  the  stomacli  and  dyspe})sia. 

Treatment.  Borax  in  powder,  one  ounce  ;  molasses,  three  ounces ; 
mix,  and  appl}-  with  a  soft  brush,  or  soft  piece  of  cloth.     Give  soft 


—  363  — 

feed  or  cut  grass.  A  few  doses  of  sul})liite  of  sod;i,  half  an  ounce 
to  a  dose,  given  for  a  few  evenings,  will  be  all  that  is  wanted.  (See 
Lam  pas.) 

Tlie  nioutli  is  a  favorite  and  convenient  place  for  horsemen  to 
try  the  keenness  of  their  pocket  knives,  when  the  least  pretext  is 
offered. 

The  palatine  artery  is  sometimes  cut  lengthwise  ;  and  when  that 
is  the  case,  the  bleeding  thus  unnecessarily  induced,  will  not  stop 
when  it  is  wanted.  Many  plans  and  contrivances  are  recom- 
mended, by  individuals,  to  stop  such  bleeding  ;  but  none  are  equal 
to  a  piece  of  iron  or  kitchen  poker  immersed,  for  a  few  minutes, 
in  hot  water,  and  applied  to  the  wound  for  a  moment,  wliich  will 
at  once  stop  further  loss  of  blood. 

(5.)  Parrot  Mouth. — A  malformation  consisting  in  the  upper 
front  teeth,  projecting  over  the  lower  ones.  Young  horses  are 
little  inconvenienced  by  it,  but  not  so  with  old  ones,  when  the 
teeth  are  long ;  for  then  the  lower  teeth  wound  the  soft  palate  of 
the  upper  jaw,  especially  when  the  horse  is  eating.  Keep  the 
teeth  short  by  the  use  of  the  file. 

Mucous  Membrane. — A  thin  lining  of  all  the  air  passages; 
so-called,  because  the  surface  is  kept  moist,  with  a  slimy  matter, 
as  referred  to  in  the  succeeding  article.  When  this  mucus  is 
altered  in  quantity  and  quality,  and  when  mucus-pus  is  poured 
out,  disease  is  present.  This  is  seen  in  cases  of  cold,  bronchitis, 
and  inflammation  of  the  eyes  (which  see). 

Mucus. — A  thick,  viscid  substance,  thrown  out  from  the  mucous 
membrane,  throughout  the  body. 

Myalgia. — A  term  given  to  inflammation  of  a  set  of  muscles, 
and  is  applied,  by  some,  to  wasting  of  the  muscles,  as  is  sometimes 
seen  in  s weenie. 

Narcotics. — Medicines  which  act  upon  the  nervous  system, 
diminishing  its  power  and  sensibility,  and  so  relieving  inflamma- 
tion, irritation,  and  pain.  A  medicine  capable  of  doing  this,  also 
contains  the  properties  of  an  anodyne,  a  sedative,  soporific,  car- 
minative, and  nauseant. 

There  are  but  few  medicines  possessing  this  power  over  the 
liorse,  and  these  are,  aconite,  prussic  acid,  veratrum,  and,  perhaps, 
lobelia.     In  my  practice,  nothing  answers  the  purpose  so  well  as 


—  864- 

aconite.  It  is  the  great  antiphlogistic.  Indeed,  so  great  is  its 
power,  that  in  bronchitis,  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  feet  and 
bowels,  or  w^here  there  is  pain  and  fever,  no  remedy  or  remedies 
can  compare  with  this  invaluable  medicine  in  the  treatment  of 
diseases  of  the  horse.     (See  Medicines  and  Prescriptions.) 

Nasal  Gleet. — A  thin,  transparent  discharge  from  the  nose. 
(See  Gleet. ) 

Navicular  Disease. — This  is  a  disease  commonly  called  coffin- 
joint  lameness,  and  b}^  some  it  is  termed  grogginess.  (See  Foot 
Diseases.) 

Necrosis. — This  is  a  term  given  to  a  dead  bone  when  it  is 
attached  to  a  sound  one.  The  difference  between  caries  and 
necrosis  is  this  :  Caries  is  present  when  the  bone  is  impaired  onh^, 
and  necrosis  w'hen  the  bone  is  entirely  dead,  and  its  functions 
have  entirely  ceased.  When  a  bone  has  fallen  into  the  condition 
of  necrosis,  its  removal  becomes  as  necessary  as  the  removal  of 
any  other  dead  or  foreign  matter,  in  order  that  reparation  and 
restoration  of  the  function  be  effected,  and  a  cure  be  made. 

Nephritis. — A  technical  term  applied  to  inflammation  of  the 
kidneys  (which  see). 

Nervousness. — Few  persons  having  the  care  of  horses  have 
failed  to  observe  in  them,  occasionally^  a  peculiar  excitability  of 
disposition  when  any  confusion  and  noise  is  going  on,  and  when 
being  harnessed  for  work.  The  tail  becomes  somewhat  elevated. 
They  move  from  one  side  of  the  stall  to  the  other,  and  pass  manure 
from  them  repeatedly  every  few  minutes,  until  one  would  think 
there  was  nothing  left  in  their  bowels.  These  animals  are  usually 
light  bellied  and  poor  feeders,  but  fleet  and  free  goers,  very  gay  in 
the  saddle  or  harness,  and  much  admired  by  persons  not  versetl 
in  horse-flesh.  They  make  excellent  Sunday  horses,  but  very 
poor  every-day  animals,  as  the  constant  excitement,  when  at  work, 
overdoes  their  physical  powers.  This  condition  impairs  the  value 
of  the  horse  very  much. 

Treatment.  Keep  nervous  horses  in  a  place  by  themselves,  where 
there  is  no  noise  or  sound  to  disturb  them,  and  have  no  harness 
or  saddles  in  the  place  with  them,  nor  clean  harness  or  saddles 
where  they  are;  for  whenever  a  piece  of  harness  is  seen  in  the 
hands  of  the  groom,  the  animal  expects  it  is  to  be  put  upon  him 


—  365  — 

— hence  he  gets  excited,  and  efforts  are  made  to  empty  the  bowels 
of  their  contents.  The  harnessing  or  saddling  should  be  the  last 
thing  done  before  going  out  with  such  a  horse,  as  it  gives  him  no 
time  to  empty  the  bowels  and  become  excited.  Ten  grains  of 
0})ium,  and  a  drachm  or  two  of  prepared  chalk  may  be  given, 
either  half  an  hour  before  going  out,  or  after  he  comes  in.  Such 
horses  are  more  pleasant  to  drive,  if  this  be  given.  Stuffing  cotton 
or  wool  in  the  ears  also  has  a  good  effect. 

Neurotomy. — An  operation  for  dividing  the  nerves  of  feeling, 
as  they  enter  the  foot  on  both  sides  of  the  leg.  The  operation  is 
performed  for  the  purpose  of  removing  pain  from  the  foot  in  navi- 
cular disease.  It  has,  however,  of  late  years  fallen  into  disrepute 
on  account  of  ignorant  men  operating  indiscriminately  on  feet  of 
all  forms  and  shapes  alike — in  consequence  of  which  no  surprise 
should  have  been  expressed,  when  in  some  cases  the  feet  ulti- 
mately fell  off. 

Neurotomy  should  never  be  performed  upon  flat  and  weak- 
footed  horses,  as  they  are  easily  bruised,  and  suppuration  is  set  up, 
terminating  in  separation  of  the  outer  and  inner  foot  structures. 
Weak  and  flat-footed  horses,  when  sound,  are  careful  how  they 
j^ut  their  feet  upon  hard  roads  and  paved  streets;  but  when  de- 
prived of  all  feeling  by  the  operation  of  neurotomy,  they  let  their 
feet  come  down  on  the  ground  with  great  force,  so  as  to  injure 
them,  resulting  as  before  stated,  in  the  hoof  falling  off. 

Nose,  Diseases  of  the. — (See  Cold,  Catarrh,  and  Bronchitis.) 

Numbness. — Loss  of  feeling  in  any  part,  usually  indicating 
disease  of  the  brain,  resulting  in  paralysis  or  palsy. 

Obesity. — This  is  a  term  applied  to  morbid  or  unhealthy  fat- 
ness. When  this  condition  is  in  the  mesentery,  it  produces  big 
belly  ;  in  the  liver,  fatty  liver ;  in  the  heart,  fatty  degeneration  of 
that  organ. 

Causes.  Little  or  no  work,  or  exercise  disproportionate  between 
the  amount  of  food  taken  and  the  waste. 

Treatment.  Constant  and  regular  work  ;  feed,  in  small  bulk,  oats 
instead  of  corn,  and  much  hay.  To  animals  inclining  to  take  on 
too  much  fat  and  flesh,  give  a  dose  of  physic  (see  Aloes,  Med- 
icines and  Prescriptions),  occasionall}^,  but  do  not  bleed. 

CEdema. — A  term  signifying  soft  but  not  inflammatory  swell- 


—  366  — 

ings  of  various  parts  of  the  body,  as  a  sequel  to  debilitating 
diseases.  These  swellings  contain  serum  thrown  out  from  the 
blood.  The  treatment  of  this  affection  will  be  the  removal  of  the 
exciting  cause.     (See  Dropsy.) 

CEstromania. — This  name  is,  b}^  some,  called  oestening,  which 
name  is  applied  to  mares  and  cows  when  desiring  the  male. 

Omentum. — A  fold  of  the  peritoneum,  which  hangs  down  from 
the  stomach,  and  is  reflected  on  itself  upwards  and  backwards  to 
the  colon.  It  is  in  this  where  the  great  deposition  of  fat  takes 
place.     The  omentum  is  often  implicated  in  rupture. 

Open  Joints. — (See  Broken  Knees.) 

Ophthalmia. — (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Ossification. — The  formation  of  bone ;  but  in  the  language  of 
medical  men,  it  means  a  deposition  of  earthy  matter  in  the  soft 
textures  of  the  bodv  where  bone  does  not  exist.  Thus,  for  in- 
stance,  we  speak  of  ossification  of  the  lateral  cartilages  of  the  foot, 
which  form  ring-bone.  We  have  ossification  of  the  heart,  arteries^ 
and  other  parts  of  the  body. 

Osteology. — A  name  used  in  speaking  of  the  bony  system. 

Osteoporosis. — This  is  a  name  given  to  big  head.  It  is  incur^ 
able. 

Ostitis.— (See  Splint.) 

Overreach. — This  is  the  consequence  of  driving  faster  than  the 
horse  should  go.  The  injury  is  generally  done  by  the  edge  of  the 
inner  rim  of  the  shoe.  Avoid  the  cause,  and  treat  the  wound  with 
the  simple  ointment.     (See  Prescriptions  and  Medicines.) 

Ozena. — (See  Gleet.) 

Palliatives. — Medicines  given  not  to  cure  disease,  but  to  re- 
lieve the  pain. 

Paralysis  or  Palsy. — Loss  of  the  power  of  moving  in  some 
parts  of  the  body.  Paralysis  may  be  confined  to  one  leg  or  two 
legs ;  then  it  is  called  partial.  When  the  horse  has  lost  the  power 
of  standing,  and  the  four  legs  are  affected,  then  it  is  complete. 
Usually,  however,  in  the  liorse  it  is  confined  to  the  hind  parts,  or 
the  haunches  and  legs.  Sometimes  the  paralyzed  part  is  numb, 
at  others  the  sense  of  feeling  remains. 

Causes.     Disease  in  the  brain  and  spinal  cord. 

Treatment.     If  the  patient  is  young,  exercise  patience  and  time, 


-367  — 

and  nature  will  do  a  great  deal  in  a  disease  of  this  kind.  The 
general  health  is  to  be  kept  up  by  good  feeding  and  tonic  medicine 
— such  as  fifteen  drops  of  the  tincture  of  nux  vomica,  four  times 
in  the  twenty -four  hours.  Turn  the  horse  from  side  to  side  twice 
in  the  day,  and  give  plenty  of  dry,  clean  bedding  to  prevent  the 
skin  from  scalding  and  peeling  off — which  is  sometimes  a  source 
of  great  irritation  to  the  poor  horse.  The  paralyzed  parts  should 
be  well  rubbed  with  a  stiff  brush.  Electricity  has  been  regarded 
as  an  advantage  in  this  disease,  but  from  what  I  have  seen,  not 
much  need  be  expected  from  it.  The  nux  vomica  offers,  with  good 
feeding  and  care,  the  best  chance  for  recovery.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  this  is  a  nervous  affection,  and  probably  these 
diseases  are  not  so  manageable,  nor  are  they  so  easily  cured,  as 
other  affections  of  a  different  type. 

Parotid  Duct. — Distended. — This  is  a  rare  affection  in  horses. 
It  resembles  a  round  ball  attached  to  the  edge  of  the  lower  jaw ; 
an  elastic  encysted  tumor,  or  rather  like  an  encysted  tumor.  An 
incident,  slightly  illustrative  of  appearance,  occurred  some  time 
since.  I  was  called  in  to  see  a  horse  that  proved  to  be  so  affected, 
and  told  the  gentleman  that  so  long  as  the  ball  did  not  break,  it 
would  do  the  horse  no  injury,  and  that  I  would  not  recommend 
its  removal;  whereupon  he  said  he  would  give  five  hundred  dol- 
lars if  the  horse  had  another  on  the  other  side,  that  then  he  would 
look  like  an  Angora  goat. 

Open  and  Fistulous. — This  is  a  serious  affection,  for  with  every 
movement  of  the  jaw^  in  chewing  or  masticating  the  feed,  the 
glands  pour  out  the  saliva  which  should  mix  with  the  feed,  and 
assist  in  the  act  of  digestion,  and  it  is  lost  upon  the  ground.  The 
animal  becomes  thin  of  flesh,  gets  weak,  and  after  a  time  dies  a 
miserable  object. 

Causes.  Injuries,  or  accident  to  the  gland  or  its  duct,  resulting 
in  suppuration.  From  the  mobility  of  the  parts,  fistula  is  estab- 
lished. 

Treatment  Few  horse  doctors  or  farmers  can  cure  this  affection. 
An  expert  or  accomplished  surgeon  is  only  able  to  effect  a  cure, 
and  this  will  be  by  closing  the  open  or  fistulous  duct,  so  that  the 
saliva  will,  with  the  feed,  find  its  way  into  the  stomach. 

India  rubber  dissolved  in  chloroform,  applied  over  the  mouth 


—  368  — 

of  the  wound,  when  it  is  thoroughly  dry,  will  stop  it  for  a  few 
da3'S.  By  continuing  this  application,  a  cure  in  a  great  many 
cases  can  be  made. 

Pathology. — A  department  of  medical  science  which  treats  of 
the  causes  and  nature  of  disease,  and  of  the  appearances  of  dis- 
eased parts  when  living  or  dead. 

Patella,  Dislocation  of  the. — This  is  a  common  occurrence 
in  high  spirited,  nervous  and  weakly  horses. 

Symptoms.  The  horse  stops,  if  at  work,  and  throws  up  his  head, 
slightly  bending  the  pastern  of  the  dislocated  leg,  and  holding  the 
leg  back  behind  the  body,  being  unable  to  bring  it  under  it.  Fe- 
ver and  irritation  sometimes  accompanies  this  accident,  more  es- 
pecially if  it  is  of  rare  occurrence  in  the  animal.  The  oftener 
the  patella  has  been  out,  the  less  fever  and  irritation  will  be  seen. 
There  are  horses  with  which  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  hap- 
pily for  them,  there  is  just  as  little  trouble  in  putting  the  leg  in 
its  place  again  ;  a  crack  of  the  whip  will  do  it  sometimes.  This 
is  a  serious  object,  in  an  otherwise  fancy  horse.  There  is  but  one 
other  afifection  of  the  hind  leg  which  can  be  mistaken  for  it,  and 
that  is  cramp  (which  see). 

Treatment.  Remove  the  horse  to  a  stable,  attach  a  rope  to  the 
pastern  of  the  leg  which  is  dislocated,  carry  the  end  of  the  rope 
through  a  ring  or  over  a  beam  at-or  about  the  horse's  head,  place 
the  end  of  the  rope  in  the  hands  of  one  or  two  strong  men — tell- 
ing them  not  to  pull  till  a  man  is  placed  at  the  head  of  the  horse 
to  keep  him  steady — have  another  man  at  the  leg  with  one  hand 
placed  firmly  on  the  point  of  the  hock -joint,  pulling  towards  him- 
self, and  the  other  pushing  firmly  against  the  dislocated  joint, 
then  let  the  men  on  the  rope  pull  firmly  and  gently,  till  the  foot 
is  brought  fairly  in  under  the  horse's  body ;  after  which  the  rope 
should  be  removed,  and  the  horse  kept  quiet  for  a  day  or  two. 

Pasterns. — (See  Sprains.) 

Pelvis. — The  anatomical  name  for  the  lower  part  of  the  abdo- 
men or  belly. 

Pelvic  Abscess. — This  condition  is  sometimes  seen  in  weakly 
constitutioned  mares  within  a  few  days  after  foaling. 

Symptoms.  In  from  one  to  four  days  one  of  the  thighs  of  the 
hind  legs  will  be  swollen,  hot  and  painful,  causing  the  mare  to 


—  369  — 

shiver  or  appear  chilly,  not  from  cold,  but  from  the  sup])urative 
inflammatory  action  going  on.  The  milk  will  have  almost  en- 
tirel}^  ceased,  and  the  colt  will  have  to  be  fed  by  the  bottle  as  a 
child,  or  out  of  a  bucket  like  a  calf,  till  the  mare  is  cured  and  the 
milk  returns.  One  curious  condition  about  pelvic  abscess  is,  that 
although  it  suppurates,  the  abscess  does  not  break  usually  on  the 
thigh,  as  it  would  be  expected  to  do,  but  within  an  inch  or  two 
from  the  haunch  bone. 

Treatment.  The  pus  which  has  accumulated  from  so  larg.e  an 
abscess,  does  not  discharge  itself  from  the  place  of  opening,  but 
burrows  awa}^  down  among  the  muscles  of  the  hip  and  thigh, 
down  to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  hock  itself.  Hence,  the  great 
secret  in  the  treatment  of  pelvic  abscess  is  to  make  tivo  free  open- 
ings, one  above,  at  the  point  of  the  soft  abscess,  and  the  other  within 
from  four  to  six  inches  of  the  hock  on  the  outside  of  the  thigh. 
Then  take  a  smooth  elastic  twig  or  a  long  piece  of  whalebone 
nicely  smoothed  with  sandpaper,  and  introduce  into  the  opening 
above,  and  gently  force  it  down  to  within  an  inch  or  so  of  the 
lower  opening.  This  being  done  the  pus  will  all  discharge  itself 
from  the  lower  hole.  Then  inject  with  a  small  S3^ringe,  once  a 
day,  for  a  few  days,  about  half  a  tablespoonful  of  the  following 
mixture  :  Oil  of  turpentine  and  olive  oil,  equal  parts.  Keep  the 
parts  clean,  feed  the  mare  and  colt  well,  and  leave  nature  to  com- 
plete the  cure. 

Penis  Hanging  Out. — This  is  a  serious  defect,  and  is  the  re- 
sult of  weakness  and  debility.  The  organ  of  generation  is  weak, 
the  sheath  swells,  clasping  the  penis  in  its  grnsp  until  it  also  be- 
comes enlarged,  and  in  most  cases  will  not  draw  into  its  place 
again,  so  that  it  must  either  remain  so  or  be  cut  off  close  to  the 
prepuce  or  sheath.  This  affection  and  the  0])posite  conditions, 
Phymosis  and  Paraphymosis,  were  very  prevalent  amongst  the 
horses  of  the  army,  in  the  late  war. 

Peristaltic. — A  term  applied  to  the  serpentine  motion  of  the 
bowels,  one  portion  contracting  and  forcing  its  contents  onward 
into  the  next. 

Peritonitis. — ^Inflammation  of  the  peritoneum,  or  the  serous 
membrane  which  lines  the  walls  or  inside  of  the  belly,  character- 
24 


—  370  — 

ized  by  great  pain,  and  is  the  result  of  accidents  or  injuries,  and, 
at  times,  surgical  operations. 

Treatment.  The  same  as  for  any  disease  of  an  exalted  kind, 
using  aconite  root,  cold  water  and  pure  air,  and  after  the  pain  and 
fever  have  subsided,  good  feeding. 

Periosteum. — The  thin  pearly  covering  investing  the  bone.  It 
is  the  stretch  of  this  membrane  in  cases  of  splint  which  causes 
pain  and  lameness.     (See  Splint.) 

Phagadena. — A  name  used  in  surgery,  imph^ng  a  spreading 
and  destructive  ulcer,  which  spreads  rapidh^  and  destro\'S  the  sur- 
rounding parts.  The  true  meaning  of  this  word  is  eating,  and  in 
its  effects  is  similar  to  what  is  called,  in  domestic  practice,  hospital 
gangrene — a  local,  spontaneous  combustion,  in  which  oil  globules 
are  poured  out  in  great  quantity  in  and  around  the  sore  or  ulcer. 
These  ulcers  are  common  on  the  heels  and  legs  of  horses  after  a 
severe  winter.  When  on  the  heels,  the  ulcers  are  taken  by  horse- 
men to  be  scratches.  Phagadena  does  not  usually  assume  the 
form  or  appearance  of  a  cut  or  scratch,  but  is  generally  a  flat, 
round  or  oval,  and  circumscribed  sore  at  first;  the  hair  of  the  part 
stands  on  end,  with  oil  drops  all  over  the  surface,  and  in  a  feu- 
days  the  whole  of  the  skin  and  hair  falls  off,  or  a  separation  of  the 
edges  of  the  sore  will  take  place,  and  the  skin  and  flesh  of  the 
part  will  completely  fall  out  (called  core),  leaving  an  unhealthy- 
looking  sore,  with  a  white  sanious  fluid  covering  the  whole  of  its 
surface.  When  the  slough  does  not  take  place,  it  is  graduall}''  eaten 
away,  and  in  this  case  leaves  on  the  edges  and  surface  of  the  sore 
a  thin  dirt}'  colored  looking  skin  or  membrane. 

Causes.  Bad  habit  of  body,  from  impure  blood,  death  of  the 
part  from  exposure  of  the  heels  in  some  mixture  of  salt  and  snow. 
Cold  drafts  under  stable  doors. 

Treatment.  The  complete  removal  of  all  dead  matter  belonging 
to  the  ulcer,  and  a  thorough  cleansing  of  its  inner  surface.  This 
is  important,  as  it  will  not  only  be  rendered  necessary  as  a  measure 
of  cure  but  as  a  surety  against  its  spreading  further  up  the  leg  or 
heels.  Then  sprinkle  the  edges  and  inner  surface  twice  in  tlie  day, 
for  a  day  or  two,  with  powdered  blue  stone  to  destroy  the  un- 
health}'  surface  and  hasten  a  red  surface,  or  the  granulatory  pro- 
cess by  which  the  hole  will  be  speedih'  filled  up  again.     Complete 


—  371  — 

tlie  cure  by  s])rlnkling  powdered  loiif  sugar  over  the  sore  twice  in 
the  twenty-four  hours.  Support  the  strength  of  the  horse  by  good 
and  generous  diet.     (See  Scratches  and  Frost  Bites.) 

Phlebitis. — A  name  given  to  inflammation  of  the  vein  after 
bleeding,  characterized  by  swelling  and  cording  of  the  vein.  (See 
Jugular  Vein.) 

Phlegmasia  Dolens. — A  name  given  to  one  leg  when  swelled 
to  a  great  extent  from  plugging  of  the  blood  vessels  of  the  leg 
with  plastic  matter  poured,  into  them  from  the  blood.  (See 
Grease.) 

Phrenitis. — One  of  the  many  diseases  of  the  brain  character- 
ized by  the  horse  becoming  unmanageable — a  variet}^  of  staggers, 
or  it  may  be  of  inflammation  of  the  brain  itself,  and  is  incurable. 

Physiology. — A  branch  of  medical  science  treating  of  the  life 
and  functions  of  organized  bodies. 

Physicking. — In  England,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  European 
continent,  a  person  who  does  not  know  how  to  physic  a  horse, 
whether  sick  or  well,  is  not  considered  fit  to  take  care  of  horses. 
In  the  United  States,  the  man  who  knows  all  about,  and  recom- 
mends physicking  under  almost  any  circumstances,  should  not  be 
permitted  even  to  take  a  horse  by  the  head,  much  less  to  take  care 
of  horses  not  his  own.  In  an  extensive  practice  of  many  years,  I 
do  not  recollect  a  half  dozen  times,  when  I  either  gave  or  recom- 
mended a  horse  to  be  physicked  ;  and  no  man  can  show  equal 
success  in  tlie  treatment  of  diseases  of  horses  and  cattle,  let  his 
mode  of  practice  be  what  it  may.  Remember,  when  the  bowels 
are  opened,  and  emptied  of  their  contents,  an  important  pillar  has 
been  taken  from  under  the  animal  structure.  Show  me  a 
European  book  on  the  diseases  of  animals,  which  does  not  recom- 
mend and  minutely  describe  how^  to  physic  a  horse,  and  I  will 
show  you  a  city  without  walls,  without  a  cliurch,  or  gymnasium. 
In  this  connection,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  our  American  authors, 
on  animal  diseases,  have  copied  too  closely  from  European  prac- 
tice, which  is  utterly  unfit  for  this  country,  climate  and  the  con- 
stitution of  all  our  domestic  animals. 

Pleurisy. — Inflammation  of  the  serous  membrane  covering  the 
lungs  and  lining  the  sides  of  the  chest.     (See  Lung  Diseases.) 


—  372  — 

Pleuro-pneumonia. — Inflammation  of  the  covering  and  sub- 
stance of  the  lungs  and  chest. 

Pleurodynia. — This  is  a  rheumatic  affection  of  the  intercostal 
muscles,  differing  from  pleurisy,  from  there  being  no  constitutional 
disturbance,  little  fever  and  no  inflammation.  It  is  treated  with 
a  dose  or  two  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  given  internally,  and 
mustard  and  a  little  vinegar  rubbed  into  the  muscles  of  the  sides, 
behind  the  shoulder. 

Pleuro. — Fullness  of  blood.     (See  Obesity.) 

Pneumonia. — Inflammation  of  the  lungs  (which  see). 

Poisons. — These  act  different]}"  in  destroying  life.  They  are 
derived  from  the  organic  and  inorganic  kingdoms,  and  their  effects 
are  either  local  or  remote.  Poisons  may  be  taken  into  the  stomach, 
inhaled  in  the  form  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  communicated 
through  the  skin,  as  from  the  bite  of  a  poisonous  animal,  or  ab- 
sorbed from  wounds.  (See  Glanders.)  Poisons  act  in  one  of 
three  ways. 

(1.)  IRRITA^'T  Poisons  are  those  poisons  the  symptoms  of  which 
are  inflammation,  irritation,  and  pain.  Examples — arsenic,  bi- 
chloride of  mercury,  lead,  baryta,  copper,  and  the  Spanish  fly. 

Treatment.  The  plan  to  be  adopted  in  this  class  of  poisons  in 
the  horse  is  :  Give  him  large  quantities  of  the  white  of  eggs,  milk, 
linseed  oil ;  and  remove  the  poison  as  speedily  as  possible  by  giv- 
ing large  quantities  of  linseed  oil — say  two  quarts.  The  horse 
cannot  vomit ;  hence,  it  is  difficult  to  procure  a  prompt  evacuation 
of  the  stomach.  If  the  pain  be  great,  give  aconite  to  subdue  it, 
and  to  keep  down  inflammation  and  sympathetic  fever. 

(2.)  Narcotic  Poisons. — Poisons  which  act  on  the  brain  and 
nervous  centres,  producing  stupidit}^  or  coma. 

Treatment.  Give  four  grains  of  strychnia  nux  vomica  in  a  few 
pints  of  gruel  made  with  vinegar.  Keep  the  horse  walking 
around,  and  place  chopped  ice  in  a  bag,  and  put  it  on  the  forehead. 

(3.)  Narcotic  Acrid  Poisons. — Poisons  acting  as  the  above,  and 
causing  irritation,  inflammation,  fever,  and  pain.  Examples  of 
this  class  are,  nux  vomica  and  veratria. 

Treatment.  Aconite  will  not  only  relieve  the  pain,  but  is  an  ex- 
cellent antidote  for  strychnia;  and  for  aconite,  strychnia  ma}"  be 
given  with  advantage  in  cases  of  this  variety  of  poisoning. 


—  373  — 

Poisoning  from  lead  and  copper  is  most  frequent  in  the  country, 
or  in  the  vicinity  of  lead  and  copper-smelting  works,  or  in  pas- 
tures where  manure  from  large  towns  and  cities  is  spread,  or  on 
farms  where  the  water  is  conveyed  in  leaden  pipes,  or  is  kept  in 
troughs  and  cisterns  lined  with  lead.  Pieces  of  lime  and  nails,  or 
scraps  of  iron  finding  their  way  into  leaden  troughs,  cause  oxida- 
tion of  the  lead,  forming  sugar  of  lead — a  bad  poison.  Not  long 
since,  heavy  damages  were  awarded  a  farmer  who  had  lost  several 
head  of  cows  from  lead  poisoning,  occasioned  by  the  spray  of 
leaden  bullets  shot  against  a  stone  wall  by  a  rifle,  or  military 
company — the  fringes  of  lead  spread  upon  the  grass,  being  con- 
verted into  the  sugar,  or  oxide  of  that  metal,  and  the  cows  gather- 
ing it  with  the  pasture. 

Treatment.  Give  large  doses  of  the  white  of  eggs,  and  linseed 
oil,  in  either  lead  or  copper  poisoning,  to  shield  the  coats  of  the 
stomach  and  bowels,  and  to  remove  it  from  the  body  altogether. 
Happily  for  his  owner,  large  quantities  of  poisonous  materials  are 
necessary  to  destroy  the  life  of  the  horse.  Materials  which  will 
destroy  man,  dog,  and  the  pig,  will  not,  in  many  instances,  have 
effect  on  the  horse,  sheep,  and  cattle.  Antimony,  an  active  and 
deadl}^  poison,  when  given  to  omnivorous  animals,  has  no  more 
effect  in  a  poisonous  point  of  view  than  the  same  quantity  of 
earth,  when  given  to  herbivorous  animals.  Hence,  tartar  emetic 
is  now  no  longer  used  as  a  nauseant  in  the  treatment  of  horses  and 
cattle,  when  laboring  under  lung  diseases,  however  useful  it  is  in 
the  same  disease  in  man  and  the  dog. 

Poll-evil. — This  affection  of  the  bacK  part  of  the  head  is  well 
known  to  horsemen,  without  much  of  a  description  being  given. 
It  consists  in  suppurative  inflammation  forming  pus  in  the  form 
of  a  simple  abscess,  or  in  the  form  of  fistula  (which  see). 

Cause.     Injury  to  the  part,  or  disease  of  the  bone. 

Treatment.  As  soon  as  tlie  swelling  has  become  a  little  soft, 
have  it  opened  without  delay,  before  the  pus  has  time  to  burrow 
down  among  the  bones  of  the  neck,  and  caiuse  disease  in  them. 
Make  the  opening  large  and  deep  enough  so  as  to  admit  three 
fingers,  that  the  abscess  can  be  swabbed  out  with  a  piece  of  sponge 
or  cloth  tied  on  the  end  of  a  stick,  to  remove  the  pus.     This  will 


—  S74  — 

have  to  be  done  twice  in  the  day,  till  no  more  pus  can  be  brought 
out. 

Occasionally  syringe  or  squirt  cold  water  into  the  sore,  and 
swab  it  out  again,  till  completely  dry.  Then  apply  the  following, 
once  in  a  day,  with  a  swab :  Creosote,  one  ounce ;  oil  of  olives, 
two  ounces  ;  oil  of  turpentine,  one  ounce  ;  mix.  In  applying  the 
mixture  do  not  use  the  swab  too  freely,  as  it  may  break  down  the 
granulations  or  the  healing  processes  that  are  springing  up  to  fill 
the  hole  or  cavity,  and  thereby  prevent  a  perfect  cure. 

When  poll-evil  is  the  result  of  diseased  bone,  and  partakes  of  a 
fistulous  character,  it  will  not  be  so  easily  healed  or  cured  ;  for 
the  underlying  bone  being  carious,  and  becoming  necrosed,  be- 
fore exfoliation  or  separation  of  the  dead  bone  takes  place  the 
horse  may  be  dead — the  process  taking  years  to  perfect  itself. 
And  when  it  is  cured,  there  is  usually  a  stiff  neck  remaining  ever 
after.  Ten  drops  of  sulphuric  acid  poured  in  the  fistulous  open- 
inoj  of  the  swelling  or  sore  will  hasten  recovery  very  much  and  in 
many  cases  efl'ect  a  good  and  speedy  cure.  Once  a  day  will  be 
often  enough,  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  fistulous  opening, 
drop  the  acid  into  one  to-day  and  the  other  to-morrow,  and  con- 
tinue from  da}^  to  day,  till  each  and  everv  opening  ceases  to 
discharge  a  whitish  gray  matter,  and  a  dry  looking  opening  is 
presented.  Afterwards,  use  a  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  zinc : 
one  drachm  of  the  zinc  to  four  ounces  of  water,  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose. Horses  having  sores  of  all  kinds  on  their  body  should  be 
well  fed  and  cared  for. 

Polypi. — These  are  diseased  enlargements,  which  grow  upon 
the  mucous  membranes  of  the  nose  and  ear,  and  in  the  uterus  or 
womb  of  mares. 

Treatment.  If  they  are  small,  they  are  cured  by  touching  them 
with  a  stick  of  caustic  potassa ;  if  large,  cut  them  off  with  a  sharp 
knife  or  scissors,  and  apply  a  weak  solution  of  blue  stone  to  the 
sore  till  it  is  healed. 

Predisposing  Causes. — Causes  which  render  an  animal  sus- 
ceptible to  disease.  For  example,  a  3'oung  horse  standing  in  the 
stable  from  da}'  to  day  becomes  predisposed  to  disease  of  the 
throat  and  lungs,  when  put  to  any  exertion.  Old  age  is  a  predis- 
posing cause  of  disease.     Some  animals,  as  well  as  men,  are  more 


—  37S  — 

disposed  to  disease  than  others.  From  their  temperament,  and 
(;ertain  conditions  of  tlie  solids  and  fluids  of  the  bod}^  the  body 
is  more  susceptible  to  what  is  called  a  predisposing  cause. 

Prick  of  the  Foot. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Probang. — There  are  two  of  these  instruments.  One  is  for 
forcing  obstructions  down  the  gullet  in  cases  of  choking,  and  the 
other  an  instrument  used  in  giving  to  horses,  etc.,  medicine  in  a 
solid  form  or  in  the  form  of  a  ball  or  bolus. 

Procidenta. — A  term  used  to  denote  the  falling  down  of  the 
womb,  or  foal  bed  in  brood  mares.  This  affection  is  very  common 
in  milch  cow^s  ;  not  so  in  mares. 

Prognosis. — The  foretelling  the  course  and  event  of  a  disease, 
from  its  symptoms.  Prognosis  may  be  favorable  or  unfavorable. 
Nothing  can  so  w^ell  distinguish  the  scientific  veterinary  surgeon 
from  the  blockhead  in  such  matters  as  correct  prognosis. 

Prophylactics. — Is  a  term  applied  to  the  means  made,  or 
adopted,  for  the  preservation  of  health,  and  the  prevention  of  dis- 
ease. 

Proud  Flesh. — A  common  name  applied  to  hasty  granula- 
tions in  a  sore  or  wound,  which  presents  a  fungous  appearance. 
To  cure  and  prevent  this,  sprinkle  a  little  white  sugar,  powdered 
blue  stone,  or  a  little  red  precipitate  on  the  surface. 

Prurigo. — An  itchiness  of  the  skin,  which  is  best  treated  by 
the  sulphite  of  soda,  in  half  ounce  doses,  given  every  night  in  cut 
feed  for  a  week.     (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Pulse. — This  is  the  stroke  or  beat  of  an  artery,  consequent  upon 
its  alternate  dilation  and  contraction  caused  by  the  action  of  the 
heart.  The  pulse  is  subject  to  many  variations,  even  not  depend- 
ing upon  disease.  It  is  also  liable  to  changes  from  temporary  ex- 
citement, as  from  severe  heat,  etc.  Medicines  act  upon  the  circu- 
lation, and  consequently  change  the  beat  and  character  of  the 
pulse.  If  the  disease  be  debility,  diffusible  stimulants  will  be  re- 
quired to  raise  the  pulse ;  and  in  order  to  depress  the  circulation, 
as  in  inflammation  and  fever,  nauseants  are  indicated,  such  as 
aconite  and  veratrum.     (See  Pulse,  in  Introductory  Remarks.) 

Puncture. — Wounds  inflicted  with  a  sharp-pointed  tool,  as  a 
staple  or  hay-fork,  etc.  Punctured  wounds  are  dangerous,  depend- 
ing upon  their  depth  and  locality,  and  should  be  treated  by  free 


—  876  — 

openings  from  the  bottom  of  the  wound,  to  allow  the  exposed 
fluids  to  escape.  The  parts  should  be  dressed  with  simple  oint- 
ment.    (See  Medicines  and  Prescriptions.) 

Purgatives. — A  class  of  medicines  capable  of  cleansing  or 
emptying  the  bowels.  Purgatives  are  distinguished  from  laxa- 
tives, only  in  the  quantity  given.  Six  to  eight  drachms  of  aloes 
will  act  as  a  purgative,  and  two  or  three  drachms  will  act  as  a 
laxative.  When  laxatives  are  necessary,  repeat  at  distant  in- 
tervals. 

Purpura. — This  is  a  disease  which  is  but  rarely  seen,  and  con- 
sists in  the  surface  of  the  whole  body  and  legs  being  covered  with 
pimples,  or  small  boils,  which  discharge  a  livid  or  purple-colored 
fluid.  The  animal  is  very  much  debilitated  ;  and  accompanied  with 
sympathetic  fever,  we  not  unfrequently  see  swelHngs  of  the  head 
and  parts  of  the  body,  with  the  legs  very  thick,  and  the  same 
colored  fluid  oozing  out  of  them.  Invariably  the  horse  is  scarcely 
able  to  move.  The  worst  form  of  this  disease  is  the  purpura 
hsemoragica,  or  bleeding  purpura.  The  small  boils  are  the  result 
of  extravasation  from  the  minute  blood  vessels  under  the  skin. 

Cause.  Venous  congestion  of  the  whole  surface  of  the  body, 
and  possible  a  deterioration  of  the  blood  itself 

Treatment.  Support  the  strength,  to  keep  off"  typhoid  symp- 
toms ;  enrich  the  blood,  and  attend  to  the  surface  sores.  For  this 
purpose,  give  the  following  powders,  night  and  morning :  Pow- 
dered sulphate  of  iron,  three  ounces;  gentian  root,  two  ounces 
and  a  half;  carbonate  of  ammonia,  four  ounces.  Mix,  and  divide 
into  twelve  powders,  one  to  be  given  twice  in  the  da3\  Give,  oc- 
casionally, forty  to  sixty  drops  of  commercial  sulphuric  acid  in  a 
bucket  of  cold  water.  Feed  the  horse  well,  and  apply  to  the  sores 
olive  oil,  three  ounces,  and  creosote,  one  ounce,  once  ever\^ 
second  day,  and  wash  the  sores  twice  a  week.  Horses  once  at- 
tacked by  this  disease  are  ever  after  liable  to  it. 

Pus. — This  is  the  material  found  in  abscesses.  Pus  may  be 
healthy,  or  laudable,  as  it  is  called.  Unhealthy,  when  it  is  mixed 
with  blood  and  lias  a  stinking  smell.  Healthy  pus  is  of  the 
thickness  and  color  of  cream,  and  is  insoluble  in  water. 

Putrefaction. — Certain  diseases  are  regarded  as  putrid,  where 
the  discharges  have  a  black  appearance  and  putrid  smell.     When 


—  377  — 

weakness  and  debility  are  present,  })utrid  ulcers  spread  rapidly. 
Tlie  treatment  of  putrefaction,  in  a  living  animal,  should  be  di- 
rected to  laying  open  the  sores,  so  as  to  get  rid  of  the  putrid  dis- 
charge before  it  is  absorbed  into  the  circulation.  Then  wash  imme- 
diately with  the  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime,  after  which 
dress  the  sores  with  equal  parts  of  olive  oil  and  creosote,  and 
sprinkle  them  with  powdered  charcoal.  Furnish  the  horse  with 
good  feed  to  support  the  strength,  and  give  sulphate  of  iron  and 
gentian  root,  two  drachms  each,  night  and  morning. 

Putrid  Fever. — (See  Typhosus.) 

Pyemia. — This  is  a  term  signifying  pus  in  the  blood,  acting 
and  setting  up  fermentations.  Examples:  Tubercles  in  the  lungs, 
glanders,  farcy,  and  grease.     (All  of  which  see.) 

Quack  Medicines. — These  are  medicines  prepared  according 
to  private  or  secret  receipts,  and  are  puffed  up  in  newspapers,  and 
private  circulars,  as  infallible  cures  for  most  all  diseases  which 
can  be  named,  in  either  man  or  beast ;  either  for  external  applica- 
tion or  internal  administration.  No  subject  in  medicine  has  been 
more  fully  exposed  than  the  great  and  absurd  pretensions  of  these 
medicines.  But,  notwithstanding  all  this,  the  credulity  of  even 
the  best  class  of  society  is  great,  the  readiest  victims  being  found 
among  them.  It  surely  reqtiires  no  argument  to  show  how  dan- 
gerous must  be  the  indiscriminate  use  of  powerful  drugs  when 
compounded  by  parties  who  likely  never  had  the  slightest  oppor- 
tunity to  acquire  a  medical  education,  and  why  such  persons  can- 
not cure,  by  their  remedies,  diseases  which  are,  or  may  be,  deemed 
incurable,  and  have  defied  the  most  consummate  skill  and  ex- 
perience of  the  veterinary  medical  world. 

Quinsy. — A  name  given  to  sore  throat.  (See  Distemper  and 
Influenza.) 

Quittor. — The  term  is  used  in  England  for  a  disease  in  the 
foot  of  a  fistulous  character.     (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Rabies. — (See  Hydrophobia.) 

Rachitis. — A  disease  of  the  bones  of  young  animals,  due  to  a 
deficiency  of  earthy  matter  (lime),  which  causes  the  bones  to 
yield,  being  too  soft.  In  colts  of  the  first  year,  some  will  be 
observed  to  stand  so  close  at  the  knees,  that  one  joint  touches  the 
other^  which  gives  the  fore  legs  a  curious  looking  twist,  with  the 


—  378  — 

feet  turned  out  and  the  knees  bent  in.  Colts  so  affected  soon  get 
well  when  they  are  supplied  with  good,  nutritious  food,  in  which 
the  phosphate  of  lime  predominates.  Rachitis  (pronounced 
racketisj,  in  old  horses,  is  seldom  seen  ;  and  when  it  is,  it  is  in 
the  bones  of  the  back  or  lumbar  vertebrae,  is  characterized  by- 
swellings  of  an  irregular  kind,  with  water  oozing  from  them,  and 
is  called  hydro-rachitis  or  spina-bifida.  Horses  so  affected  are  not 
fit  for  work  with  weight  upon  the  back.     (See  Deformities.) 

Resolution. — This  is  the  most  favorable  termination  of 
inflammation,  and  leaves  the  inflamed  part  in  the  same  state  or 
condition  in  which  it  was  before  it  was  attacked. 

Respiration. — The  alternate  inspiration  and  expiration  of  air, 
performed  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  the  hydrogen  and  carbon 
for  oxygen.  The  air  being  brought  in  contact  with  the  blood,  as 
it  circulates  through  the  lungs,  the  oxygen  unites  with  it,  and  the 
nitrogen  and  carbonic  acid  gas  is  returned  by  expiration.  The 
oxygen  and  some  of  the  inhaled  air  is  united  in  the  lungs  with 
free  hydrogen,  which  is  given  out  from  the  lungs,  and  is  readily 
seen  issuing  from  the  nostrils  on  a  frosty  morning,  or  when  the 
thermometer  is  about  40°. 

Revulsion. — A  second  attack  of  disease,  but  in  a  remote  or 
different  part  of  the  body  from  whictt  the  first  attack  had  its  seat. 
Example:  If  an  eruption,  or  the  abscess  of  strangles  be  repelled 
from  the  outside  of  the  body,  we  will  find  it  attacking  an  internal 
organ.     (See  Metastasis.) 

Rheumatism. — In  no  disease  of  the  horse  are  there  so  many 
errors  and  mistakes  committed  ;  not  only  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
affection,  but  its  mode  of  treatment.  Horsemen  and  horse 
doctors  have  not  yet  learned  that  there  is  a  difference  between 
rheumatism  and  founder,  whether  acute  or  chronic,  and  how  to 
distinguish  one  from  the  other.  The  difference  between  acute  or 
inflammatory  rheumatism  and  acute  founder  is  this:  In  rheuma- 
tism there  is  not  only  pain,  but  great  fever  and  excitement,  and 
its  seat  is  in  the  joints  of  the  legs ;  in  founder  we  have  pain,  but 
no  fever,  and  the  disease  is  confined  to  the  feet  alone.  (See 
Laminitis.) 

In   chronic  rheumatism  there  mav  be  some  excuse  for  such 


—  379  — 

mistakes,  as  there  is  no  fever ;  but  there  is  an  inability  to  move, 
as  if  the  horse  was  sprained  over  the  loins.     (See  Lumbago.) 

(1)  Acute  Rheumatism. — Nothing  less  but  what  is  called  (when 
man  is  the  subject)  rheumatic  fever. 

Symj^toms.  Great  fever,  excitement,  and  irritation,  with  extreme 
pam  in  the  legs  and  joints ;  so  much  so  that  the  stricken  horse 
has  not  a  leg  fit  to  stand  upon,  and  dares  not  move  from  the  place 
he  occupies,  from  fear  of  falling  to  the  ground.  In  connection 
with  all  this  disturbance,  the  horse  sweats  profusely,  and  blows  or 
breathes  excitedly,  having  no  heat  in  the  feet,  as  in  founder.  It 
will  be  well  to  remember  this,  in  forming  a  correct  opinion  of  the 
case.  In  severe  cases  the  whole  of  the  muscles  of  the  body  are 
set  to  quivering,  clearly  indicating  inflammatory  rheumatism  in 
full  force  and  degree. 

Causes.  Sudden  check  to  perspiration,  by  placing  heated  horses 
in  a  current  or  draught  of  cold  air,  thus  preventing  the  transuda- 
tion through  the  skin  of  its  formed  and  natural  secretion,  which 
being  absorbed  by  the  blood,  and  acting  as  a  poison,  produces 
inflammation  in  the  sheaths  of  the  tendons,  and  of  the  fibrous 
parts  or  tissue. 

Treatment.  The  treatment  of  acute  rheumatism  is  sometimes 
unsatisfactorv  ;  not  that  it  is  incurable,  but  from  the  fact  that  the 
medicines  which  frequently  cure  one  will  not  cure  other  cases. 

Give  twenty-five  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  every  four 
hours,  till  six  doses  are  given.  Place  the  horse  in  a  cool,  airy 
place,  with  plenty  of  bedding  under  him,  so  as  to  induce  him  to 
lie  down  ;  then  lightly  cover  the  body,  and  apply  cold  water 
swabs  or  loose  cloths  to  the  legs,  keeping  tliem  continually  wet, 
from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours.  In  winter,  warm  water  will 
answer  best.  By  the  time  the  six  doses  of  aconite  have  been 
taken,  a  great  change  for  the  better  will  have  taken  place  ;  so  much 
so,  that,  in  many  cases,  the  horse  may  be  left  to  nature  to  complete 
the  cure.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  should  the  disease  take  a  chronic 
form,  give  drachm  doses  of  the  powdered  meadow  saffron  seeds 
twice  in  the  day,  and  occasional  doses  of  sixty  drops  of  sulphuric 
acid  in  half  a  bucket  of  cold  water.  Half  ounce  doses  of  the 
sulphite  of  soda  may  be  given  as  an  alkali.  Do  not  bleed  or 
purge. 


—  380  — 

(2.)  Chronic  Rheumatism. — I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 
chronic  rheumatism  in  a  joint  is  one  of  the  most  prolific  causes 
of  occult  or  hidden  lameness  in  horses;  while  this  is  so,  when 
there  are  no  swellings  to  point  to  as  a  proof  of  the  correctness  of 
your  opinion,  many  will  question  your  judgment.  But  it  is  with 
this,  as  with  many  things  in  the  world — time  onl}"  being  required 
for  a  thorough  development  of  the  fact. 

Treatment  of  Chronic  Rheumatism.  Give  a  few  doses  of  aconite 
root,  followed  by  the  colchicum  or  saffron  seeds,  the  sulphuric 
acid  and  the  alkaline,  as  is  recommended  in  acute  rheumatism, 
but  not  pushing  them  to  such  an  active  extent.  A  liniment  may 
be  applied  to  the  rheumatic  joint  or  joints  composed  of  chloroform 
and  olive  oil,  equal  parts,  to  be  used  once  a  day,  with  friction  by 
tlie  hand.  One  part  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root,  may,  in  ad- 
dition, be  used  to  advantage  with  the  chloroform. 

(3.)  Rheumatism. — Accompanying  Diseases  of  the  Throat.  This 
combination  is  often  met  with,  which  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
same  serous  or  fibrous  tissue  or  membrane  is  affected  in  each  of 
the  diseases.  Nevertheless,  we  do  not  see  cases  of  throat  disease 
following  rheumatism ;  from  which  we  derive  the  fact  that  those 
membranes  are  not  capable  of  reflecting  upwards  and  backwards 
their  sympath}"  or  feeling  as  the  nerves  of  the  body  are.  So, 
therefore,  I  am  inclined  to  the  belief  that  rheumatism  in  this 
form,  is  the  effect  of  disease  in  the  throat,  and  not  a  cause  of  the 
disease. 

Treatment.  Cure  the  disease  in  the  throat,  and  the  rheumatism 
will  be  deprived  of  its  cause  and  support.  (See  Influenza  and 
Gastritis  Mucosa.) 

Ring-bone. — This  is  a  serious  affection,  and  consists  of  a  circle 
of  bone  thrown  out  from  the  underlying  bone.  Sometimes,  in 
addition  to  this,  the  cartilages  of  the  foot  are  converted  into  bone, 
and  laid  in  the  form  of  a  circle ;  and  hence  its  name,  ring-bone. 
It  is  most  common  in  the  fore  legs  of  heavy,  coarse-bred  horses, 
with  short  and  straight  up  pastern-joints.  When  it  occurs  in  fine- 
bred  horses,  it  is  usually  the  hind  leg  which  is  affected.  Ring- 
bone does  not  alwa3"s  cause  lameness. 

Cause.  Hereditary  predisposition,  from  a  peculiar  formation  of 
pastern-joints,  which  are  found  not  well  adapted  to  hard  work; 


—  381  — 

and  hence,  an  effort  of  nature  is  set  up  to  strengthen  parts  which 
are  too  weak,  by  converting  an  elastic  substance  into  a  hard  and 
unyielding  mass,  and  a  moving  hinge  into  a  fixture. 

Treatment.  If  it  is  of  recent  origin,  and  the  horse  is  young, 
much  may  be  done  in  the  way  of  a  cure,  by  first  removing  all 
heat  and  inflammation  wdth  cold  water  cloths  wrapped  round  the 
parts  for  three  da3^s,  taking  them  off  at  night.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  get  one  drachm  of  the  bin-iodide  of  mercury,  mix  with  one 
ounce  of  lard,  and  apply  one-half  of  the  salve  by  rubbing  it  in 
well  for  ten  minutes.  Tie  up  the  horse's  head  for  a  few  hours, 
and  the  next  day  wash  off  with  soap  and  warm  water,  daily 
anointing  the  parts  wdth  lard  or  oil  for  a  week;  then  apply  the 
remainder  of  the  salve  in  the  same  way,  and  proceed  as  before. 
In  old  horses,  not  much  can  be  done  with  ringbone,  as  the  bones 
of  old  animals  contain  so  much  earthy  (lime)  matter  that  nothing 
can  act  upon  it. 

Ringworm. — (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Roaring. — A  noise  made  by  some  horses  when  put  to  work. 
There  are  many  different  sounds  produced  from  the  same  cause, 
and  they  are  incurable,  except  when  depending  upon  the  presence 
of  tumors,  which  can  be  removed.  Roaring  can  be  relieved 
somewhat  by  placing  pads  over  the  faulty  nostril.  When  very 
bad,  an  operation  called  tracheotomy — an  opening  into  the  wind- 
pipe, and  keeping  a  silver  tube  inserted  in  it — is  sometimes  re- 
sorted to.  By  this  means  a  draught  horse  can  be  kept  at  work 
for  many  3' ears. 

Round  Bone. — (See  Hip-joint.) 

Rowels. — An  old-ftxshioned  operation,  consisting  in  an  opening 
made  through  the  skin  for  a  few  inches  in  length,  the  skin  being 
raised  from  its  attachments,  and  a  piece  of  leather  fitting  the 
cavity  phiced  into  it,  so  that  a  discharge  is  set  up  in  a  day  or  two. 
Times  were  when  this  unnecessary  cruelty  was  frequently  inflicted 
upon  the  poor  unoffending  horse,  but  in  this  humane  and  progres- 
sive age,  we  only  occasionally  meet  with  the  barbarity.  Rowels 
are  an  abomination,  and  inflict  a  scar  or  blemish,  which  never 
leaves  the  part.  The  stupidity  and  ignorance  of  horse  doctors 
generally,  do  not  allow  them  to  see  that  the  powers  of  nature  are 
more  potent  for  good  in  curing  the  affection  than  a  rowel — to 


—  382  — 

which  is  attributed  a  j3ower  or  virtue  it  never  possesses.  If  I 
should  put  in  a  rowel,  it  would  not  be  with  the  view  of  curing  dis- 
ease or  sprain,  but  simply  to  secure  the  horse  plent)^  of  time  in 
the  stable,  so  that  nature  could  cure  the  disease  herself. 

Ruptures. — The  protrusion  of  some  portion  of  the  bowels  or 
intestines  out  of  their  proper  place.  The  groin,  the  navel,  sides 
of  the  belly,  and  scrotum,  or  testicle  bag,  are  the  places  were  rup- 
tures usually  show  themselves,  and  it  is  the  variety  of  situation 
that  gives  rise  to  the  many  species  of  rupture  or  hernia. 

(1.)  Inguinal  Rupture. — In  the  United  States,  the  horses  are 
mosth^  all  castrated,  which  fact  accounts  for  the  rare  occurrence  of 
this  variety  of  rupture.  The  operation  of  castration  completely 
closes  the  inguinal  ring  or  opening  through  which  pass  the  sper- 
matic cord,  testes,  etc.,  thus  preventing  the  possibility  of  rupture 
in  that  direction.  When  this  kind  of  rupture  takes  place  it  is  in 
stallions  and  uncastrated  colts,  and  requires  for  its  cure  the  cas- 
tration of  the  horse  or  colt  by  what  is  called  the  covered  operation, 
that  is,  by  leaving  the  tunica  vaginalis,  or  inner  covering  of  the  tes- 
tes entire  and  uncut,  and  placing  the  clamps  over  it,  allowing  the 
testes  or  stones  to  fall  off,  or  be  removed  in  two  days  from  the 
time  of  operation.  As  soon  as  this  kind  of  rupture  is  observed, 
have  the  horse  or  colt  castrated  at  once. 

(2.)  Scrotal  Rupture. — This  variety  of  rupture,  entirely  con 
fined  to  the  testicle  bag,  or  scrotal  sac,  is  also  the  affection  of  un- 
cut horses,  and  is  caused  by  relaxation  of  the  fibrous  tissue  around 
the  inguinal  ring.  This  is  a  kind  of  rupture  wliich  comes  and  goes, 
as  if  it  were  an  intermittent  affection.  The  rupture,  or  large  swell- 
ing, during  rest  will  entirely  disappear,  and  return  during  exer- 
cise, sometimes  wdth  violence,  throwing  the  horse,  perhaps,  into  a 
fit  of  colic,  and  inducing  strangulation  and  death  of  the  horse. 
Scrotal  rupture  is  sometimes  confined  to  one  side  only  of  the  scro- 
tum. If  in  time  the  animid  should  not  die  from  strangulation  of 
the  bowel,  the  rupture  will  sometimes  increase  to  an  enormous 
size,  hanging  far  down,  and  filling  up  the  space  in  and  between 
the  hind  legs. 

Treatment.  The  same  as  for  inguinal  hernia.  Of  course,  in  both 
cases,  care  should  first  be  taken  to  push  back  the  bowels  through 
the  ring  into  the   belly,  before   removing  the   testicles.     Scrotal 


-383- 

ruptiire  should  not  be  confounded  with  hydrocele,  or  water  in  the 
scrotal  sac.     (See  Dropsy.) 

(3.)  Congenital  Rupture. — This  is  a  species  of  rupture  ob- 
served at  the  birth  of  the  foal  or  colt,  and  is  the  least  dangerous  of 
all  the  varieties  of  ruptures,  although  the  rupture  continues  to 
grow  and  increase  in  size  until  the  fourth  to  the  six  month  of  the 
colt's  age,  and  then  gradually  and  progressively  disappears  alto- 
gether, If,  however,  it  should  not  at  the  end  of  that  time  diminish 
in  size  and  volume,  a  tolerably  stout  and  tight  collar  or  bandage 
may  be  placed  around  the  bod}^  covering  the  rupture.  This  band 
should  be  kept  in  place  by  a  broad  collar  or  cloth  attached  to  each 
side  of  the  body  bandage,  and  passing  in  front  of  the  breast,  with 
another  around  the  back  parts  of  the  hips — thus  preventing  a 
backward  or  forward  movement  of  the  body  bandage. 

If  rupture  should  occur  in  a  few  days  after  the  birth  of  the  colt, 
it  should,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  be  classed  as  congenital 
rupture,  and  be  treated  accordingly. 

Congenital  rupture  is  the  same  as  what  is  called  by  some  writers 
umbilical  rupture,  which  is  correct  as  far  as  it  goes  ;  but  congenital 
rupture  includes  not  only  the  navel,  but  the  scrotal  also.  The 
navel  variety  can  be  most  successfully  treated  by  letting  it  alone ; 
or,  in  some  cases,  by  the  application  of  a  bandage.  When,  how- 
ever,  in  the  scrotum,  castration  is  the  only  cure,  and  a  bandage  in 
this  case  would  not  only  be  useless,  but  hurtful  to  the  colt. 

(4.)  Ventral  Rupture. —  This  is,  when  the  bowel  produces 
through  any  part  of  the  belly,  excepting  at  the  unbilicus  or  navel, 
or  any  natural  opening,  and  is  generally  the  result  of  injury  or 
accident,  as  from  a  hook  from  the  horn  of  a  cow,  or  the  kick  of  a 
horse.  The  common  place  where  this  kind  of  rupture  is  usually 
seen,  is  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  belly,  between  the  ribs  and  at 
the  flanks. 

Symptoms.  A  large,  puffy  swelling  which  can  be  lessened  in  size 
and  forced  into  the  cavit}^  of  the  belly  again,  by  merel}^  pressing 
against  it.  The  skin  will  be  loose  when  the  bow^el  is  thus  pushed 
in  ;  and  when  the  pressure  has  ceased,  the  enlargement  or  swelling 
returns  at  once,  and  fills  up  the  loose  skin. 

Treatment.  In  most  cases,  let  the  enlargement  alone  ;  as,  in 
nearly  all  instances,  no  inconvenience  from  it  will  be  experienced 


^384  — 

by  the  horse.  The  only  way  to  reduce  such  a  rupture  is,  by  gath- 
ering and  holding  the  loose  skin,  and  covering  the  rupture  after 
the  bowel  has  been  pushed  into  its  place  by  means  of  long  clamps-, 
like  a  long  vise,  till  the  skin  falls  off.  This  cure  is  worse  than  the 
affection  it  is  intended  to  remedy ;  for  by  breaking  the  skin  the 
bowels  are  exposed  to  the  air  and  the  uncertaint}'  of  the  edges  of 
the  skin  uniting  firmly  together.  This  is  frequenth^  also,  more 
than  can  be  expected,  as  the  horse  is  not  a  rational  being,  and 
cannot  be  told  to  stand  this  or  that  way,  in  this  or  that  position. 
If  he  experiences  any  pain,  he  will  become  restless,  and  lie  down, 
and  roll ;  and  then  what  of  the  nicely  adjusted  clamps  ?  In  short, 
the  horse  will  die  in  a  few  hours. 

(5.)  Rupture. — Of  Castration.  This  variety  of  rupture  some- 
times follows  immediately,  or  a  few  days,  after  the  operation  of 
castration. 

Causes.  When  the  rupture  occurs  as  soon  as  the  horse  rises 
from  the  operation,  it  is  produced  by  the  violence  of  the  strug- 
gling, or  rising  with  too  much  of  a  jerk.  When  occurring  a  few 
days  after  the  operation,  the  cause  may  be  laid  to  the  w'ound  not 
healing  and  uniting  properly. 

Symptoms.  As  in  colic  ;  the  horse  rising,  lying  down,  pawing, 
rolling,  sweating  ;  high  fever  and  inflammation  ;  and  finally,  gan^ 
grene,  or  mortification  of  the  parts,  and  death  of  the  horse. 

General  Remarks.  The  termination  of  ruptures  of  all  kinds  and 
varieties  most  to  be  dreaded,  is  that  condition  known  as  strangu- 
lation, which  occurrence  is  indicated  by  the  pawing,  rolling, 
sweating,  and  restive  condition  of  the  horse,  etc.  If  not  relieved 
in  a  very  short  time,  he  will  die.  To  reduce  strangulation,  he 
must  be  secured,  and  fastened  ;  and  all  conceivable  ingenuity  must 
be  exercised  to  get  the  bow^els  back  into  their  proper  place.  No 
rule  can  be  laid  down  to  accomplish  this,  as  some  ruptures  are  re- 
ducible, and  others  are  not.  But  the  hands  of  the  operator  must 
be  well  oiled  when  handling  the  bowels,  and  the  bowels  kept 
scrupulously  clean  ;  and  when  they  have  been  successfully  placed 
into  their  proper  cavity,  the  horse  will  be  at  rest,  and  relieved  from 
pain.  To  prevent  the  bowels  from  returning  again,  the  rupture 
must  be  closed  by  skewers  made  of  iron,  or  stiff  wood,  passed 
through  the  lips  of  each  side  of  the  wound,  half  an  inch  from  the 


—  385  — 

edge,  with  waxed  cord  wound  round  and  over  the  skewers,  in  the 
form  of  the  figure  8. 

Metallic  or  silver  wire  is  used  by  scientific  veterinary  surgeons 
in  securing  the  edges  of  the  skin  of  ruptures  and  injuries  to  the 
belly  of  all  domestic  animals,  as  the  best  and  most  successful 
plan. 

Ruptures  of  the  stomach,  bowels  and  diaphragm,  are  occasion- 
ally the  immediate  cause  of  death  in  cases  of  colic.  (See  Hock, 
etc.) 

Saddle  Galls. — Sores  produced  by  the  saddle  and  other  por- 
tions of  the  harness,  and  are  best  treated  by  the  compound  tinc- 
ture of  aloes.  When  the  sores  become  hard  and  firm,  like  warts, 
use  the  ointment  of  iodide  of  mercury.  (See  Medicines  and  Pre- 
scriptions.) Remove  the  cause  of  the  trouble  by  attending  to  the 
saddle  and  harness,  and  if  no  fault  be  found  with  the  stufl^ing  of 
the  saddle,  cut  a  hole  in  the  padding  sufficiently  large  to  accom- 
modate the  sore  without  touching  it. 

Sallenders. — (See  Mallenders.) 

Saliva. — A  fluid  secreted  by  the  salivary  glands,  which  serves 
to  moisten  the  mouth,  and  is  swallowed  with  the  food.  When 
horses  are  feeding,  the  saliva  mixes  with  the  feed,  and  resolves, 
dissolves,  and  changes  into  a  soft  mass  fit  to  be  swallowed.  (See 
Parotid  Duct.) 

Salivation. — This  is  an  increased  flow  of  saliva  induced  in  the 
horse  by  mercury  and  other  medicines,  and  is  often  seen  in  horses 
feeding  upon  the  second  crop  of  clover  late  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
or  after  slight  frosts ;  which  fact  sufficiently  accounts  not  only  for 
the  salvation  of,  but  also  afi'ords  the  reason  wh}^  horses  so  feeding 
lose  flesh  and  become  thin  and  weak,  although  apparently  feeding 
upon  abundance. 

Second  crop  clover  grows  fast,  is  soft,  and  full  of  moisture,  while 
the  cool  nights  arrest  its  mushroom  growth,  and  the  moisture  it 
contains  in  great  quantity  is  converted  from  a  sweet  and  nutritious 
substance  into  a  sour  and  acidulous  fluid,  not  unlike  vinegar  or 
acetic  acid.  The  acid  so  formed  within  the  clover  leaf  and  stem 
is  pressed  out  by  the  act  of  mastication  or  chewing,  stimulating 
the  fauces  of  the  mouth  and  the  salivar}-  glands  to  a  great  extent, 
and  taxing  the  substance  of  the  body  for  the  saliva  to  meet  an 
25 


—  386  — 

enormous  demand.     Hence,  the  weakness  and  loss  of  flesh  of 
horses  so  fed. 

Sand  Cracks. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Sanious  Pus. — Pus  mixed  with  water  and  blood;  unhealthy 
pus. 

Scalds. — (See  Burns.) 

Scald  Mouth. — (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Scarlatina. — A  disease  newl}'  discovered  in  light-colored  horses, 
attended  b\'  sore  throat,  as  in  man,  and  with  slight  fever  and  dry 
skin — the  glands  of  the  neck  are  slightly  swollen,  and  in  about 
two  days  the  lining  membranes  within  the  nose  and  lips  become 
studded  with  scarlet  spots  about  the  size  of  a  garden  pea,  which 
run  together.  In  light  bay  horses  will  be  seen  patches  from  which 
the  hair  falls  off  and  is  replaced  by  a  coat  of  a  lighter  color,  thus 
making  the  animal  look  as  if  he  had  had  an  attack  of  varioloid  or 
small-pox.  Scarlatina  is  an  eruptive  fever,  running  a  fixed  and 
definite  course,  and  is  closely  allied  to  purpura,  influenza  and 
strangles  (all  of  which  see). 

Treatment.  Place  the  horse  in  a  cool  place,  and  give  small  doses- 
of  aconite,  followed  b}^  gentian  and  carbonate  of  ammonia.  In  a 
few  days  iron  ma}'  be  added.     (See  Medicines.) 

Scratches. — (^See  Grease,  Phagadena,  and  Frost  Bites.) 

Schirrus. — Pronounced  sklrrus,  and  signifj'ing  induration  or 
hardening  of  any  structure,  but  now  used  only  when  speaking 
of  cancer. 

Scouring. — (See  Diarrhoea.) 

Scrotum. — The  bag  or  skin  covering  the  testicles  of  the  stallion, 
which  is  the  seat  of  large  watery  swellings,  as  a  sequel  to  debili- 
tating disease,  or  disease  treated  by  starving,  bleeding,  etc.  If  the 
swelling  does  not  grow  less  after  extra  feed  is  allowed,  and  a  few 
iron  powders  are  given,  the  scrotum  will  have  to  be  opened  a  little 
on  both  sides  to  allow  the  fluid  to  flow  out.  Do  not  mistake  the 
swelling  for  scrotal  rupture.     (See  Ruptures.) 

Scurf. — A  scaly  eruption  on  the  skin  of  badh^-groomed  and 
cared  for  horses.  It  is  cured  by  good  grooming,  good  feeding,  and, 
in  some  cases,  a  change  in  stabling. 

Secretion. — The  product  secreted  or  separated  from  the  blood. 
Secreted  products  are  of  two  kinds  : 


—  387  — 

(1.)  Excretion,  or  matter  separated  by  animal  bodies,  and  tbrown 
off  on  account  of  tiieir  noxious  or  effete  qualities.  Examples — 
the  urine,  the  dung,  sweat,  and  carbonic  acid  gas  from  the  lungs. 

(2.)  Secretion  is  matter  separated  from  the  blood  for  further  use, 
and  for  the  performance  of  various  actions  in  the  living  system. 
Example — bile,  saliva,  etc. 

Sedatives. — Medicines  which  lessen  pain,  and  should,  there- 
fore, be  called  calmatives.  Aconite  is  the  most  certain  and 
successful  sedative  and  calmative  we  have  to  offer,  and  will  seldom 
disappoint  the  highest  expectations,  if  used  properly  and  in  good 
time. 

Serum. — The  thin,  colorless  fluid,  which  separates  from  the 
blood. 

Serous  Abscess. — A  variety  of  abscess  seen  usually  about 
the  breasts  of  horses.  It  arises  from  injury  followed  by  the  pour- 
ing of  a  serum  from  the  blood  into  the  injured  part,  which,  not 
being  absorbed  readily,  remains  there  in  the  form  of  a  large  ovoid 
flattened  bag.  A  blind  man,  who  never  saw  a  tumor,  could  tell 
that  it  contained  fluid.  Indeed,  wherever  dropsical  swellings  are 
not  absorbed,  a  serous  abscess  will  be  formed. 

Treatment.  Open  it  with  a  knife,  making  a  large  opening  through 
the  skin,  only  at  the  lowest  soft  part,  so  the  serum  will  run  out 
without  pressing.  Inject  once  or  twice  with  cold  water,  and 
anoint  the  skin  with  lard  to  prevent  it  from  cracking  or  becoming 
dry. 

Seton. — A  piece  of  tape  placed  under  the  skin  by  means  of  a 
needle  made  for  the  purpose.  Setons  are  rarely  of  use,  and  are 
often  torn  violently  out,  making  an  ugly  sore. 

Shivers. — So  called  because  the  horse  is  seized  with  tremor  of 
the  muscles  of  the  whole  body,  when  any  attempt  is  made  to  push 
him  back.     The  tail  is  erect  as  in  cases  of  lock-jaw. 

Causes.     Tumors  on  the  ventricles  of  the  brain. 

Shoeing  of  Sound  Feet. — Most  diseases  of  the  feet,  and  every 
stumble  are,  either  directl}^  or  indirectly,  the  result  of  bad  shoe- 
ing. Horse-shoers  have  long  been  in  the  habit  of  using  the  knife 
and  rasp  too  freely  to  keep  feet  sound  very  long  so.  When  the 
shoe  is  carefully  removed,  the  wall  or  crust,  where  a  well  seated 
shoe  should  only  rest,  should  be  gently  rasped  to  remove  frag- 


—  388- 

ments  of  loose  horn  and  old  nails.  In  deep,  well-made  feet,  the 
sole  requires  paring  out  till  it  is  in  the  form  of  a  cup,  but  not  too 
thin — the  bearing  surface,  or  wall,  to  be  made  level  for  the  new 
shoe.  This  is  all  that  is  required  in  a  sound  foot.  The  frog  must 
be  left  to  fill  its  functions.  Above  all,  do  not  let  the  rasp  be  used 
upon  the  surface  of  the  foot,  for  it  is  the  skin  of  the  hoof,  and  by 
its  removal  you  expose  it  to  every  chance  in  moisture  and  dry- 
ness, and  leave  it  weak,  dry,  porous  and  brittle. 

The  shoe  should  be  a  plain  one,  equally  broad  and  wide  from 
heel  to  toe,  and  put  on  without  seating  ;  for  why  bring  a  concave 
foot  in  contact  with  a  concave  shoe  ?  The  toe  should  be  slightly 
turned  up,  and  not  too  short  at  the  heels.  The  hind  shoes  should 
be  provided  with  heels. 

The  nail  holes  should  be  three  on  the  outside,  and  two  on  the 
inside,  and  made  straight  through  the  iron,  and  not  incline  in- 
wards, and  the  shoe  fitted  to  the  foot,  and  not  the  foot  to  the 
shoe. 

Dray  horses  should  be  shod  with  tips,  or  toes  and  heels,  which 
secure  firmness  of  tread,  and  greater  power  when  drawing  heavy 
loads,  especially  in  cities  with  smooth  paved  streets. 

Shoeing  Unsound  Feet. — Feet  with  corns,  weak,  flat  feet,  con- 
vexed  sole,  and  sand  or  quarter  cracked  feet,  should  have  shoes 
well  seated :  and  it  is  advisable  to  throw  some  extra  weight  upon 
the  frog,  for  which  purpose  a  bar-shoe  should  be  used.  (See  Foot 
Diseases.)  Leather  soles  are  useful  in  weak-soled  feet  when  the 
horse  steps  high  and  is  much  used  upon  city  streets.  One-sided 
nailing  answ^ers  well  for  w^eak  heels.  Ring-boned  animals  should 
be  shod  with  easy  fitting  shoes,  to  avoid  jarring.  Horses  having 
a  tendency  to  navicular  or  coffin-joint  disease  should  have  shoes 
turned  up  a  little  at  the  toe,  with  the  ground  surface  of  the  wall 
well  cut  away,  and  the  sole  and  frog  untouched.  The  art  of  shoe- 
ing horses  consists  in  fitting  a  shoe  to  the  foot  of  a  horse,  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting,  and,  at  the  same  time,  not  injuring  it. 

Shoulder  Lameness. — This  is  produced  b}^  a  slip,  or  side-fall, 
and  is  frequent  with  horses  in  cities  having  broad  rails  laid  on 
the  streets  for  railroad  purposes.  In  wet  weather  these  ra.ils  are 
very  slippery  ;  hence  the  horse  has  no  foothold,  the  leg  is  stretched 
far  out  before  the  animal  and  the  muscles  of  the  shoulders,  and 


—  389- 

iii  some  cases   the   shoulder-joint   is   involved.     A   much   more 
serious  affair  than  simple  shoulder  sprain  is  the  result. 

Shoulder  lameness  is  common  to  young  horses  when  ploughing 
in  the  furrow. 

Sijmptoms.  The  absence  of  heat;  tenderness,  and  swelling  in 
an}'  other  part  of  the  leg  or  foot.  Always  find  out  with  certainty 
where  there  is  no  lameness  and  the  situation  of  lameness  will 
very  soon  be  apparent.  Negative  and  positive  symptoms  should 
always  be  well  considered  before  coming  to  a  final  conclusion,  as 
by  doing  so  the  situation  or  trouble  is  so  narrowed  down  that  a 
mistake  can  scarcely  occur.  Shoulder  lameness,  however,  is  known 
by  the  horse  stepping  longer  with  the  lame  leg,  and  shorter  with 
the  sound  one  ;  and,  excepting  in  very  severe  cases,  the  horse  will 
not  only  point  the  leg  out  from  the  body,  but  carry  it  also  to  the 
side  of  the  body.  Now,  in  most  sprains  and  diseases  in  the  foot, 
the  leg  will  be  pointed  straight  out  without  any  side  position. 

Take  the  leg  which  is  lame  by  the  pastern,  and  gently  carry,  or 
pull  it  straight  out  from  the  body  of  the  horse  in  front,  and  gently 
also  to  the  outside;  if  it  should  be  shoulder  lameness,  the  horse 
will  not  only  show  evidences  of  pain,  but  will  in  many  cases,  de- 
pending upon  the  spirit  and  animation  of  the  horse,  get  up  from 
the  ground  with  the  sound  leg  and  endeavor  to  wrest  the  lame 
leg  from  you. 

In  very  severe  cases,  when  occurring  from  a  bruise,  the  horse 
will  stand  on  his  toe,  which  is  evidence  of  contusion  of  the 
shoulder. 

Treatment.  Absolute  and  entire  rest,  warm  water  cloths  ap- 
plied for  two  days,  followed  by  cold  water  cloths,  in  the  same 
way,  and  for  as  many  days.  Then  a  sliglit  blister  of  the  Spanish 
fly  may  be  rubbed  into  the  skin  of  the  shoulder,  taking  care  that 
none  of  it  is  put  on  at  the  situation  of  the  collar,  as  it  would  ren- 
der the  part  a  little  tender  for  a  while  by  friction  om  the  collar. 
Take  Spanish  fly  in  powder,  one  drachm  ;  hog's  lard,  six  drachms; 
mix,  and  make  an  ointment,  or  salve,  and  rub  tlie  better  half  of 
it  into  the  skin.  Next  day  wash  off  with  warm  water  (not  hot), 
and  when  dry  from  washing,  anoint  the  bhstered  parts  with  oil  or 
lard,  daily,  for  a  week.  It  is  not  advisable  to  put  horses  to  work 
or  even  exercise,  too  soon  after  getting  well  from  lameness. 


— 390-- 

Shoulder-joint  Lameness. — This  is  a  more  serious  form  of 
lameness  tlian  sprain  of  tlie  muscles  of  the  shoulder.  It  consists 
in  the  softening  of  the  articular  cartilages  of  the  joint  membranes, 
and  great  secretion  of  unhealthy  S3'novia  (joint  oil),  producing 
bulging  of  the  ligaments  (capsular),  and  covering  the  joint.  It 
can  be  detected  by  making  the  horse  stand  upon  the  lame  limb, 
and  by  holding  up  the  other  one.  This  is  a  disease  similar  to 
spavin  in  the  hock-joint,  which  accounts  for  the  unsatisfactory  re- 
sults of  treatment. 

SymiJtoms.  The  horse  drags  his  toe,  and  throws  his  leg  out  at 
every  movement  of  the  limb. 

Treatment.  As  before  stated,  this  is  rather  unsatisfactory,  from 
the  fact  that  the  cartilages  are  likely  to  be  destroyed,  and  the 
bone  underneath  apt  to  become  ulcerated;  but  if  taken  in  time, 
much  good  can  be  done.  In  many  cases,  a  cure  can  be  effected 
by  the  ointment  of  red  iodide  of  mercury,  well  rubbed  in  once  a 
week,  for  a  few  times. 

Take  of  bin  iodide  of  mercury,  two  drachms ;  hog's  lard,  two 
ounces.  Mix  well  on  the  bottom  of  a  dinner  plate,  or  a  smooth 
slate,  with  a  table  knife.  Of  this  ointment,  take  one-fourth  and 
rub  well  into  the  joint,  tying  up  the  horse's  head  for  a  few  hours, 
to  prevent  his  getting  at  the  shoulder  with  his  mouth  ;  allow  soft 
bedding  for  the  front  feet  to  stand  upon,  as  the  horse  wnll  stamp 
wath  his  foot  on  the  floor — for  the  action  of  this  ointment  is  con- 
sidered to  be  as  painful  as  the  hot  iron,  for  half  an  hour  from  the 
time  it  begins  to  act  till  the  parts  commence  to  swell  from  its 
splendid  effects.  Hence,  firing  irons  are  now  not  much  used,  except 
in  the  hands  of  old  fogies.  Daily,  oil  or  grease  the  parts  for  a 
week,  then  apply  as  before,  and  remember  that  to  get  all  the 
benefit  of  this  ointment,  it  must  be  well  rubbed  in  the  parts. 

Side  Bones. — A  species  of  ring-bone;  only  the  side  cartilages 
of  the  foot  are  converted  into  bone,  and  do  not,  as  in  ring-bone, 
extend  round  the  coronet,  or  portion  immediately  above  the  hoof. 
The  cause  and  treatment  are  the  same  as  in  ring-bone  (which  see). 

Sinus. — A  long,  narrow  and  ulcerated  track,  communicating 
either  with  the  inside  of  an  abscess  or  diseased  bone.  (See  Fis- 
tula and  Poll-Evil.) 

Sitfasts. — These  are  liard  and  insensible   tumors,  sometimes 


—  391  — 

called  warbles,  and  are  caused  t>y  undue  pressure  from  the  har- 
ness. 

Treatment.  Rub  in,  about  the  size  of  a  bean,  of  the  ointment  of 
red  iodide  of  mercury.     (See  Prescriptions  and  Medicines.) 

Skeleton  of  the  Horse,  Bones  of  the. — The  skeleton  is 
composed  of  two  hundred  and  fort3^-seven  separate  bones,  which 
are  united  by  joints  to  form  the  spine,  thorax,  pelvis,  tail,  fore  and 
hind  extremities.  The  spine  is  finished  anteriorly  by  the  head, 
which  is  divided  into  the  cranium  and  face,  and  contains  the 
teeth.  Suspended  from  the  head  is  the  os  hyoides,  which  com- 
pletes the  number  of  bones.     Thus : — 

The  spine  consists  of  7  cervical,  18  dorsal,  and  6  lumbar  ver- 
tebrae— Total 31 

The  thorax  is  made  up  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae,  with  18  ribs 

on  each  side,  and  the  sternum  in  the  middle — Total    -        -     37 
The  pelvis  comprises  2  ossa  innominata  (or  illium,  ischium, 
and  pubes),  and  1  secrum — Total         -----       3 

The  tail  contains  on  the  average  17  bones        -         -         -         -     17 

The  fore  extremity  is  made  up  on  each  side  of  the  scapula, 
humerus,  os  brachii,  and  8  carpal  bones,  3  metacarpal,  os 
suffraginis,  os  coronse,  os  pedis,  os  naviculare,  2  ossa  sesa- 
moidea — Total  on  both  sides        -         -         -         -         -         -     40 

The  hind  extremity  has  the  femur,  patella,  tibia,  fibula,  6 
tarsal  bones,  3  metatarsals,  os  suffraginis,  os  coronse,  os 
pedis,  03  naviculare,  2  ossa  sesamoidea — Total     -        -        -     38 

Bones  of  the  cranium -        -10 

Bones  of  the  face  and  lower  jaw 18 

Teeth       ----- 40 

Bones  of  the  internal  ear,  4  in  each  organ  -  -  -  -  8 
Os  hyoides,  or  bone  of  the  tongue,  made  up  of  five  sections       5 


Grand  total  -        -        -  247 

Skin  Diseases. — There  are  many,  and  apparently  different 
varieties  of  skin  diseases  described  by  writers,  many  of  which  are 
the  same,  and  produced  b}^  the  same  cause,  but  present  different 
appearances  in  different  animals_,  and  in  different  stages  and  con- 


—  892  — 

ditions  of  the  affection.  Wliere  the  same  cause  can  be  properly 
assigned  in  producing  different  diseases,  although  apparentl}^  dis- 
similar, the  treatment  must  be  the  same.  Thus,  if  the  acari  is  the 
cause  of  more  than  one  kind  of  skin  disease,  of  course  the  treat- 
ment must  be  directed  to  the  destruction  or  removal  of  this  insect 
or  mite,  before  a  cure  can  be  effected  ;  so,  abo,  with  faulty  assimi- 
lation or  digestion,  which  so  often  gives  rise  to  skin  disease,  and 
which  must  be  improved  and  corrected  before  the  effect  (disease), 
will  cease  and  be  cured. 

(1.)  Baldness. — Parts  of  the  skin  of  the  horse  become  denuded 
of  the  hair,  occasioned  by  minute  or  small  pimples,  which  usually 
contain  a  fluid,  and  burst,  or  break,  carrying  the  hair  with  it. 
These  pimples,  or  small  tumors,  however,  are  sometimes  vesicular, 
sometimes  popular,  and  sometimes  scaly.  They  are  caused  by 
faulty  digestioD,  and  should  be  treated  by  soft  feed,  or  fresh-cut 
grass.     The  hair  will  grow  again. 

Baldness  is  caused  by  scalds,  burns,  and  blisters  ;  and  where  the 
true  skin  is  not  entirely  destro3'ed,  the  hair  can  be  restored  by 
using  a  weak  ointment  of  iodine — iodine,  half  a  drachm  ;  hog's  lard, 
eight  drachms  ;  mix,  and  applv  by  rubbing  with  the  hand,  once 
every  third  day,  till  there  are  evidences  of  a  growth  of  hair  spring- 
ing up.  Gunpowder  and  lard  have  no  more  power  in  causing 
hair  to  grow,  than  as  much  lard,  saltpetre,  sulphur,  and  char- 
coal Vv'ould  have;  nor  is  it  to  be  compared  to  the  iodine,  because, 
if  iodine  does  not  restore  the  hair  in  all  cases,  it  will  certainlv  dye 
or  stain  the  skin  a  dark  color,  which  cannot  be  washed  off;  and 
hence,  in  dark-skinned  horses,  is  of  much  use  in  removing  the 
bare,  bald-look  of  a  white  spot. 

(2.)  Mange,  Itch,  Psora,  or  Scabies. 

Cause.  The  result  of  an  insect  breeding  and  burrowing  in  the 
skin,  and  is  called  ncari,  a  variety  of  mite  or  animalcule. 

Stjmptoms.  At  first,  a  fine  crop  of  pustules,  not  at  this  time 
always  seen,  about  the  head  and  neck,  and  under  the  mane.  By 
the  horse  rubbing  himself  against  whatever  he  can  get  at,  the  hair 
falls  off,  and  exposes  an  angrv  and  red-colored  skin,  with  red 
points  and  lines,  fissures,  wrinkles,  or  scratches.  After  this  con- 
dition, we  have  dryness,  scruffiness,  baldness,  and  whitening  of  the 
skin,  accompanied  with  great  itchiness. 


-393  — 

Treatment.  The  l)esi  [)lan  for  curing  this  disease  in  horses,  is 
as  follows:  Take  fine  sea-sand,  sucli  as  is  used  by  stable-men  for 
scouring  steel  bits,  and  rub  the  affected  parts  well  for  a  few  min- 
utes. Then  wash  the  ])arts  well  with  good  soap  and  water,  and  a 
brush,  after  which  dry  tliem  carefully.  Then  anoint  w'ith  the  fol- 
lowing ointment :  Powdered  sulphur,  one  ounce;  hog's  lard,  two 
ounces;  mix.  The  following  is  more  cleanly :  Liver  of  sulphur, 
or  hepar  of  sulphur,  two  to  three  ounces;  cold  water,  one  quart; 
mix,  and  make  a  wash.  This  plan,  with  either  of  these  mixtures 
properly  applied,  will  not  only  kill  the  insect,  but  will  effect  a 
cure.  This  disease  has  baffled  many  who  have  attempted  its  cure 
W'ithout  first  reaching  the  insect,  by  scouring  him  out  of  his  cov- 
ering, and  killing  him  with  sulphur — a  highly  destructive  article 
to  parasitic  life. 

Observe.  This  disease  is  contagious.  Stall-posts,  mangers,  har- 
ness, combs,  brushes,  etc.,  used  about  the  horse,  should  be  sub- 
jected to  great  heat  either  by  boiling  or  steaming.  Trees,  gates  and 
rubbing-posts  in  the  field,  should  be  washed  with  water,  and  coated 
with  a  mixture  of  sulphur,  lime  and  water. 

(3.)  Eczema. — This  is  an  affection  peculiar  to  some  horses  during 
the  summer  months.  By  close  inspection  large  numbers  of  minute 
elevations,  or  raised  parts,  closely  joining  each  other,  and  filled 
with  a  watery  fluid,  will  be  observed  ;  the  skin  will  soon  present 
a  red  and  angry  look,  the  hair  be  short  and  dry,  accompanied  with 
extreme  itchiness — so  much  so  sometimes,  that  horses  so  affected 
become  almost  unmanageable.  The  situation  of  this  disease  is 
usually  in  the  hind  legs,  and  is  considered  hereditary.  At  all 
events,  when  a  horse  is  once  attacked  by  it,  it  is  liable  to  return 
again  with  the  warm  weather. 

Cause.     A  peculiar  condition  of  the  blood,  developed  by  heat. 

Treatment.  This  disease  in  my  hands,  in  several  carriage  horses 
which  were  rendered  completely  useless  in  the  summer  months, 
has  not  only  been  cured,  but  also  prevented  from  returning,  by 
the  administering  of  half  ounce  doses  of  the  sulphite  of  soda, 
for  two  weeks  previous  to  the  hot  weather,  once  a  day.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  a  few  bundles  of  fresh  grass,  cut  from  the  borders 
of  several  gardens,  were  given.  The  soda  is  designed  to  neutralize 
ferments  in  the  blood ;  and  the  fresh   cut  grass  to  assist  b}^  its 


—  394  — 

action  on  the  stomach  and  bowels,  and  ultimately  upon  the  blood 
itself. 

(4.)  Surfeit. — A  disease  making  its  appearance  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  in  fat  horses  that  are  short  and  well  built.  It  is  charac- 
terized by  tumors  about  the  size  of  a  grain  of  Indian  corn,  cover- 
ing the  whole  body  as  completely  as  the  nettle-rash  does  that  of 
children,  and  does  not  generally  cause  itching,  nor  is  it,  like  some 
skin  diseases,  contagious. 

Cause.     Robust  stamina. 

Treatment.  Give  soft  or  slop  feed  composed  of  bran,  cut  hay, 
cold  w^ater,  and  salt,  for  a  few  days.  Give  grass,  if  it  can  be  had, 
without  any  additional  feed.  A  few  doses  of  the  sulphite  of  soda 
will  be  of  advantage. 

Bleeding  and  purging  have  arrested  the  tumors  in  their  growth, 
but  unfortunately  they  become  permanent  fixtures,  only  to  be  re- 
moved by  calomel  and  opium,  which  cause  their  absorption.  In 
this  event,  take  calomel,  thirty  grains ;  opium,  ten  grains;  mix, 
and  give  once  a  day  for  a  week  or  ten  days.  Good  feeding  will 
have  to  be  given. 

Ringworm. — Forrigo,  and  Favus  are  names  given  to  this  disease. 

Symptoms.  Small  circular  patches,  or  scales,  sometimes  running 
together,  forming  large  crusts  and  ulcers  under  them,  in  which  in- 
sects breed.  This  is  a  contagious  disease,  and  is  communicated 
from  man  to  animals,  and  animals  to  man.  The  microscope  has 
shown  the  presence  of  fungi  in  the  scab  of  ringworm,  but  whether 
it  be  merely  the  effect  of  the  disease,  or  otherwise,  is  not  at  present 
known.     It  is,  however,  more  likely  to  be  the  cause. 

Treatment.  Wash  and  keep  the  parts  clean,  and  aim  at  destroy- 
ing the  fungi.  For  this  purpose  remove  tlie  scab  as  soon  as 
formed,  and  apply  a  solution  of  oxalic  acid  to  the  surface,  using 
fifteen  grains  of  the  acid  to  an  ounce  of  water.  Tar  ointment, 
creosote,  sulphur,  and  mercur}',  have  all  been  tried;  but  none  of 
these  meet  with  so  much  success  as  tiie  solution  of  oxalic  acid, 
just  as  recommended.  For  other  diseases  of  the  skin,  see  Grease, 
Mallenders,  Sallenders,  Tumors  and  Boils. 

Slobbering. — Tliis  is  traceable  in  horses  to  a  variety  of  causes. 
We  may  enumerate  large  doses  of  aconite,  or  veratrum  ;  also  sore 
or  scald  mouth,  and  in  some  cases  poisoning.     Slobbering  from 


—  895  — 

eating  second  crop  clover,  will  be  found  treated  of  under  the  arti- 
cle Salivation  (which  see). 

Slough. — The  separation  of  a  diseased  or  dead  part  from  the 
healthy  portion.  A  slough  may  be  of  greater  or  less  thickness, 
and  may  include  the  skin  and  flesh  to  a  considerable  depth — as 
from  the  centre  of  an  abscess.     (See  Gangrene  and  Mortification.) 

Sores. — Healthy  and  unhealthy  sores  occur  in,  or  on,  all  parts 
of  the  body  of  the  horse.  Healthy  sores  are  best  treated  by  the 
tincture  of  aloes,  or  myrrh,  or  simple  ointment.  (See  Medicines 
and  Prescriptions.)  Uniiealthy  sores  should  be  treated,  first,  by 
the  application  of  some  caustic,  or  powdered  blue  stone,  nitrate 
of  silver,  or  caustic  potassa,  which  wnll  make  an  unhealthy  sore  a 
simple  and  healthy  one.     To  be  treated  as  the  above. 

Sore  Mouth. — (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Sore  Foot. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Sore  Throat. — (See  Catarrh,  Cold,  and  Bronchitis.) 

Sore  Back. — Re-stufF  the  saddle,  and  apply  the  tincture  of 
aloes  or  myrrh. 

Sore  Shoulders. — See  to  the  collar,  and  apply  as  in  sore  back. 

Sore  Neck. — A  variety  of  this  disease  presents  itself  about  the 
place  where  the  collar  usually  rests  and  presses  when  descending 
a  hill  in  double  team.  The}^  are  very  troublesome  and  difficult 
to  heal,  if  the  horse  is  kept  at  work,  and  cause  great  irritation  and 
uneasiness.  Frequently,  when  the  hand  is  laid  upon  it,  the  horse, 
if  he  be  a  spirited  animal,  will  plunge  in  the  stall,  and  even  kick, 
how^ever  quiet  he  ma}^  be  at  other  times. 

Treatment.  Apply  simple  ointment,  and  place  a  firm  but  strong 
piece  of  leather  over  it,  so  that  the  collar,  when  put  on,  can  rest 
upon  and  slide  over  it,  instead  of  upon  the  mane  and  neck. 

Soundness. — This  is  when  a  horse  has  nothing  about  him  that 
does  or  is  likel}'^  to  interfere  with  his  feeding,  working  or  general 
usefulness. 

Spavin. — A  variet}''  of  disease  afi*ecting  the  hock-joint.  Spavin 
is  not  now^  looked  upon  as  in  the  days  of  Oliver  Goldsmith  and 
William  Shakspeare,  because  in  the  minds  of  those  distinguished 
men,  and  some  of  their  readers  of  the  present  time,  spavin  is  an 
enormous  enlargement  of  the  hock  of  the  horse ;  \Vhereas,  in  some 
of  the  worst  forms  of  spavin,  there  is  no  enlargement  at  all,  while 


—  896  — 

the  hock-joint  is  completely  destro3^ed,  stiff,  or  anchylosed. 
Shakspeare  thus  refers  to  Petruchio's  horse:  "His  horse  hipped 
with  an  old  moth}-  saddle,  the  stirrups  of  no  kindred  ;  besides 
possessed  with  the  glanders,  and,  like  to  mose  in  the  chine, 
troubled  with  the  lampas,  infected  with  the  fashions,  full  of  wind 
galls,  sped  with  spavins,  raied  with  the  yellows,  past  cure  of  the 
fives,  stark  spoiled  with  the  staggers,  begnawn  witli  the  hots, 
swayed  in  the  back,  and  shoulder  shotten,  ne'er  legged  before,  and 
with  a  half-checked  bit,  and  a  head  stall  of  sheep's  leather." 

(1.)  Bog  Spavin. — This  kind  of  spavin  is  situated  in  front  of  the 
hock -joint,  and  is  a  soft,  fluctuating  swelling,  which  rarely  ever 
causes  lameness.  It  is  merely  an  enlargement  or  distention  of  the 
bursal  cavit}^  of  the  joint,  and  is  filled  with  the  natural  fluid  of 
the  joint,  but  increased  in  quantit}^,  and  possibly  in  some  cases 
a  little  changed  in  quality  also. 

(2.)  Blood  Spavin. — This  is  the  same  as  bog  spavin,  but  more 
extensive,  and  generally  involving  the  hock-joint  on  its  three 
sides,  front,  inside  and  outside,  and  giving  to  the  limb  a  thick, 
rounded  appearance,  called  thoroush-pin  (which  see).  The  swell- 
ing is  soft  and  fluctuating,  and  indeed  there  is  no  perceptible 
diff'erence  in  the  nature  and  result  of  this  form  of  spavin  and  the 
preceding  variety,  be3^ond  it  being  more  extensive,  interfering, 
perhaps,  with  the  flow"  of  blood  in  the  sub-cutaneous  (under  the 
skin)  vein,  which  is  seen  in  front,  and  partly  to  the  side  of  the 
joint,  adding  very  little  to  the  general  swelling. 

Causes.  Hard  work  and  fast  driving,  especially  when  horses 
are  young. 

Treatment.  The  application  of  the  ointment  of  red  iodide  of 
mercury,  in  the  hands  of  some,  has  done  much  good ;  but  the 
enlargement  is  apt  to  return  when  the  horse  is  again  put  to  work, 
from  the  fact  that  more  joint-oil  or  fluid  is  poured  out-  Acui)unc- 
turation,  or  forcing  small  steel  instruments  into  the  swelling  to  let 
out  the  fluid,  is  sometimes  resorted  to,  after  wdiich  a  bandage  or 
truss  is  fitted  to  the  part  to  press  out  the  fluid  tliat  remains,  and 
to  cause  the  adhesion  of  the  parts  together.  The  difficult}'  in 
curing  soft  spavin  is  the  danger  of  opening  into  a  cavity  or  joint 
containing  oil  (synovia).  An  old  way  of  treating  such  disease,  is 
by  striking  the  parts  with  a  mallet,  so  as  to  break  the  skin,  that 


—  397  — 

the  fluid  can  escape ;  the  blow  given  to  the  skin  being  so  great  as 
to  set  lip  adhesive  inflammation,  and  a  closure  of  the  opening. 

(3.)  Bone  Spavin. — Consists  in  the  sprouting  out  of  irregular 
bony  matter  from  the  bones  of  the  joint,  preventing  their  smooth 
and  23roper  action  over  one  another,  and  causing  lameness.  This 
bony  growth  sometimes  attains  a  good  size,  and  in  some  cases  we 
find  one  or  two  of  the  bones  only  involved  ;  in  others  nearly  all 
of  them  are  aff'ected.  The  situation  of  bone  si)avin  is  on  the 
inside,  and  in  front  of  the  joint. 

Symptoms.  AVhen  horses  are  what  is  called  breeding  bone  spavin, 
ordinarily  persons  think  and  say  the  lameness  is  in  the  hip  (see 
Hock),  from  the  action  which  is  reflected  by  the  muscles  of  the 
hip  at  every  movement  made  by  the  hock-joint,  and  from  the, fact 
that  there  is  no  enlargement  as  yet  in  the  joint.  The  horse  is  lame 
on  starting,  but  gets  better  after  a  little  while,  and  after  standing 
will  start  lame  again.  In  the  stable  he  shifts  one  hind  leg  after 
another,  and  when  resting  the  lame  leg,  he  stands  on  the  toe. 
Pain  and  lameness  cease  when  the  joint  is  consolidated,  although 
reniaining  a  little  stiff*. 

(4.)  Occult  Spavin. — This  is  a  disease  similar  to  bone  spavin, 
the  diff'erence  being  that  there  is  no  enlargement  of  the  joint 
whatever,  although  tlie  bones  of  the  joint  are  all  diseased,  immov- 
able and  stiff.  This  seems  to  puzzle  and  perplex  horsemen,  be- 
cause they  cannot  comprehend  a  bone  spavin  without  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  joint  outside  ;  and  consequently  the  poor  horse  is 
sometimes  blistered  and  tormented  in  every  part  of  the  leg,  but 
the  right  place.  The  cause,  results,  and  effects  of  this  disease  are 
the  same  as  in  bone  spavin,  excepting  that  there  is  no  enlarge- 
ment. 

Treatment.  For  the  two  varieties  of  spavin,  just  described,  the 
treatment  should  be  the  same.  In  young  horses,  the  red  iodide 
of  mercury  in  ointment,  is  the  proper  treatment.  One  drachm  of 
bin-iodide  of  mercury,  and  one  ounce  of  lard.  Mix,  and  ap|)ly 
once  in  a  week,  and  lard  the  parts  once  a  day,  till  the  next 
application. 

Old  horses  should  liave  a  liniment  applied,  once  every  second 
day  to  the  parts.  Oil  of  olives,  two  ounces  ;  oil  of  turpentine,  one 
ounce  ;  creosote,  one  ounce  ;  mix.     This  will  relieve  the  pain,  and 


—  398  — 

to  a  great  degree  the  lameness.  Spavined  horses  should  have  an 
extra  allowance  of  feed,  to  keep  them  in  condition  equal  to  their 
more  healthy  and  fortunate  neighbors. 

Specks  on  the  Eye. — (See  Eye  Diseases.) 

Speedy  Cut. — This  is  an  injury  to  the  knee  from  the  shoe  of 
the  opposite  fore-foot,  and  is  prevented  by  driving  slower,  and 
nailing  the  shoe  on  one  side  only. 

Treatment.  Apply  cold  water  cloths,  and  if  the  swelling  does 
not  all  go  away,  follow  with  the  application  of  the  red  iodide  of 
mercury,  in  the  form  of  an  ointment,  once  a  week,  for  a  few  times, 
and  lard  or  grease  the  parts  till  the  next  application.  Boots  are 
sometimes  used  as  a  preventative. 

SpleePx  Diseases. — The  diseases  of  this  organ  are  obscure,  and 
chiefly  consist  of  enlargements,  tubercles,  softening,  riq)ture,  and 
tumors.  The  symptoms  attending  these  affections  are  not  well 
marked. 

Splint. — A  small  bony  enlargement,  situated  usuall}^  on  the 
inside  of  the  fore-legs,  about  midway  between  the  knee  and  the 
pastern  joint.  When  splint  begins  to  grow,  it  sometimes  produces 
lameness  by  stretching  the  covering  of  the  bone,  which,  however, 
soon  accommodates  itself  to  the  altered  structure. 

Cause.  Workinof  horses  when  too  vountr,  and  before  the  les;  and 
splint  bone  have  become  united.  Hence,  splints  disappear  when 
the  horse  grows  older,  and  the  unity  of  these  bones  takes  place. 

Treatment.  One  or  two  applications  of  this  ointment :  Red 
iodide  of  mercury,  or  tincture  of  Spanish  fl}^  one  ounce ;  oil  of 
croton,  twenty  drops.     Mix,  and  apply  with  rubbing. 

Sprains. — By  this  term  is  meant  partial  displacement;  the 
twisting  of  a  joint  with  more  or  less  injury  to  the  articulations, 
ligaments,  tendons  and  their  sheaths.  At  times  small  portions  of 
the  bones  of  the  joint  are  separated.  Indeed,  every  variety  and 
degree  of  severity  is  to  be  seen  in  sprains  of  different  parts.  Every 
joint  is  liable  to  sprain,  but  the  usual  or  more  common  sprains 
will  be  found  in  the  pastern  or  fetlock  joint,  shoulder  and  its  joint, 
hock,  stifle,  back  and  loins,  flexor  tendon,  suspensory  ligaments, 
etc.,  produced  by  a  common  cause,  such  as  slipping,  falling,  over- 
work, the  weight  of  the  body,  and  not  un frequently  the  load  fall- 
ing upon  a  part,  when  not  in  its  proper  position  for  receiving  it. 


—  399  — 

Symptoms.  Pain,  heat,  swelling,  tenderness  and  lameness,  more 
or  less  severe,  depending  on  the  severity  of  the  sprain,  and  the  part 
affected.  In  severe  sprains,  care  must  be  taken  to  guard  against 
mistakes,  and  to  form  a  correct  judgment  of  the  nature  of  the  in- 
jury, whether  it  be  a  real  or  simple  sprain,  or  whether  there  be 
fracture  or  dislocation. 

Treatment.  Absolute  and  entire  rest,  is  the  principal  point  to  be 
attended  to  in  the  cure  of  sprains,  for  a  sprain  cannot  be  cured 
without  rest,  no  matter  what  other  remedies  are  employed;  and, 
if  there  be  much  fever  and  excitement  about  the  horse,  a  few  doses 
of  aconite  will  have  to  be  given.  Tincture  of  aconite  root,  fifteen 
drops,  given  three  times  in  the  day  for  two  days,  will  remove  fever 
and  irritation.  Then  apply  warm  water  cloths  for  three  days  fol- 
lowed by  cold  water  cloths  for  the  same  length  of  time,  taking  the 
cloths  off  at  night,  as  it  is  necessar}^  that  water  must  be  poured  on 
the  cloths  every  hour,  or  before  the  warm  ones  become  cold,  and 
the  cold  ones  become  warm.  After  which,  the  lameness  and  swell- 
ing will  have  ceased  :  or  should  this  not  be  tlie  case,  apply  for  a 
few  days,  once  a  day,  the  following  liniment :  Creosote,  one 
ounce;  oil  of  turpentine,  one  ounce;  oil  of  olives,  two  ounces; 
mix.  Be  assured  the  horse  is  quite  well  before  he  is  put  to  work 
again,  as  many  joint  diseases  are  brought  on  by  mismanaged 
sprains,  which  never  can  be  cured.  For  sprains  of  different  parts 
of  the  body  see  Shoulder  and  Shoulder  Joint  Sprains,  etc. 

Staggers. — A  disease  familiar  to  every  horseman,  and  of  a 
serious  character.  It  presents  different  symptoms  in  different 
horses,  depending  altogether  upon  the  extent  to  which  the  brain 
and  nervous  centres  are  affected,  and  whether  the  variety  be  mad, 
grass,  stomach,  or  sleepy  staggers. 

(1.)  Stomach  Staggers. — This  is  an  attack  of  acute  indigestion, 
from  overloading  the  stomach ;  digestion  is  arrested,  fomentation 
is  set  up,  and  the  evolution  or  giving  off  of  carbonic  acid  gas  dis- 
tends the  stomach  and  bowels,  and  presses  on  the  space  allotted 
for  the  lungs  to  play  in,  depriving  them  of  aerating  the  bloody 
thereby  affecting  the  healthy  action  of  tlie  brain  and  nervous 
centres,  and  producing  death  in  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours. 

Treatment.  Injections  of  warm  water  and  soap,  and  a  handful 
of  salt  to  clean  out  the  bowels,  so  that  the  gas  can  get  free  passage. 


—  400  — 

Arrest  fermentation  by  dissolving  two  ounces  of  the  sulphite  of 
soda  in  a  little  water,  and  giving  it  at  one  dose,  the  dose  to  be 
repeated  every  hour.  Mix  eight  drachms  of  powdered  aloes  in  a 
little  warm  water,  and  drench  the  horse  with  it  to  stimulate  diges- 
tion, and  open  the  bowels. 

(2.)  Grass  or  Sleepy  Staggers. — A  chronic  variety  of  stomach 
staggers,  and  should  be  treated  as  the  above  variety. 

(3.)  Mad  Staggers. — This  is  inflammation  of  the  brain,  and  is 
sometimes  called  Phreniiis. 

Symptoms.  Dullness,  followed  by  excitement  and  madness. 
The  sleepy  stage,  or  the  congestive  period  passing  off,  then  the 
madness  is  seen.  The  horse  unconsciously  throws  and  dashes 
himself  about,  and  sometimes  endeavors  to  climb  up  the  wall.  At 
times  ropes  will  have  to  be  used  to  keep  him  from  pulling  back, 
and  becoming  unmanageable,  thereby  destroying  harness,  car- 
riages, sometimes  other  horses,  and  even  the  stable  itself.  The 
power  of  a  mad  horse  is  great,  and  a  painful  sight  to  see.  Finally 
he  becomes  exhausted,  falls  and  dies. 

Treatment  The  horse  is  not  icorth  saving,  and  rarely  can  be 
saved  ;  for  nothing  can,  or  will,  give  relief  to  a  mad  horse,  but 
bleeding,  and  this  to  so  great  an  extent  that  life  does  not  rally, 
and  the  horse  dies,  a  dull,  stupid,  and  immovable  mass,  unable  to 
eat  or  drink.  The  brain  is  pressed  with  fluid  and  lymph,  between 
the  pia  mater  and  the  arachnoid. 

Remove  a  mad  horse,  as  soon  as  possible,  from  anything  of  value, 
or  that  can  be  broken  or  hurt.  Especially  remove  him  from  other 
horses,  so  that  he  may  not  injure  them. 

Staked.  An  accident  to  some  portion  of  the  body,  but  most 
frequently  to  the  belly,  occasioned  by  lea])ing  fences,  or  it  may  be 
by  the  horn  of  an  ox,  cow,  or  bull. 

Treatment.  If  the  injury  be  at  the  belly,  the  wound  having  en- 
tered it  to  some  depth,  ascertain,  with  the  finger,  whether  any 
portion  of  the  bowels  is  injured,  or  has  escaped  through  trhe  open- 
ing. If  so,  and  part  of  them  be  torn,  sew  with  small,  fine  cat-gut 
(such  as  is  frequently  used  by  fishermen  who  employ  artificial 
flies  as  bait),  and  pass  the  bowel  or  intestine  into  its  proper  place, 
closing  the  wound  in  the  same  way  as  is  recommended  for  rupture 
of  the  belly  (which  see).     If  the  skin  is  only  wounded,  treat  it  as 


—  401  — 

for  simple  sore.  If  the  wound  is  in  a  fleshy  part,  and  the  skin 
peeled  or  torn  from  the  flesh,  it  had  better  be  clipped  off",  as  it 
will  not  unite  again,  but  shrink  and  dry  up ;  hence,  it  is  neither 
advisable  to  let  it  hang,  nor  to  attempt  to  sew  it.  Trim  off"  the 
fragments  of  loose  skin,  and  treat  the  wound  with  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  blue  stone,  chloride,  or  sulphate  of  zinc.  (See  Medicines 
and  Prescriptions,  and  Bleeding  Wounds.) 

Stings  From  Bees,  Hornets,  etc. — Not  unfrequently  we  hear 
of  horses  losing  their  lives  from  irritation  and  fever,  originating 
from  the  stings  of  these  insects. 

Treatment.  Take  acetic  acid  No.  8,  four  ounces;  powdered  cam- 
phor, one  ounce ;  mix,  and  dissolve,  then  rub  a  portion  of  the 
mixture  into  the  parts  most  aff'ected.  The  poison,  swelling,  irri- 
tation, etc.,  will  be  at  once  arrested.  In  an  hour  afterwards,  anoint 
the  parts  with  sweet  oil  or  lard.  As  acetic  acid  may  not  be  at 
hand  in  an  emergency  like  this,  strong  table,  or  white  wine  vine- 
gar should  be  used,  without  the  camphor.  Acetic  acid  of  French 
manufacture  is  eight  times  stronger  than  ordinary  vinegar. 

Stifle-joint  Lameness. — In  the  article  on  Hock-joint  I  have 
stated  that  this  form  or  situation  of  lameness  in  the  horse  is  not 
so  common  as  horsemen  and  others  suppose  it  to  be ;  neverthe- 
less, no  part  or  function  can  be  declared  exempt  from  accident  and 
disease.  It  is  chiefl}^  however,  an  aff'ection  of  young  colts  kept 
on  uneven  ground,  and  arises  from  the  wearing  away  of  the  toe 
of  the  foot,  thus  inducing  dislocation  of  the  stifle,  or  patella, 
which  slides  ofi"  the  rounded  heads  of  the  bones  at  every  step  the 
animal  takes. 

Treatment.  Remove  the  horse  to  level  pasture,  and  have  him 
shod  with  a  shoe  having  a  projecting  piece  of  iron  attached  to  the 
toe,  which  will  prevent  the  bones  from  sliding  out  of  place  and 
knuckling  at  every  step. 

Stifle  Ulceration. — This  is  a  disease  of  the  half-moon  shaped 
cartilages  of  the  joint,  and  is  a  serious  disease,  as  all  joint  aff'ec- 
tions  commonly  are. 

Symptoms.  The  leg  is  held  firmly  somewhat  in  advance  of  the 
other,  and  is  thrown  outwards  at  every  step.  The  joint  is  en- 
larged, and  the  capsular  ligament  very  much  distended,  especially 
26 


—  402- 

when  the  animal's  weight  is  thrown  upon  it,  by  holding  up  the 
sound  leg. 

Treatment  Not  satisfactorily ;  as  ulceration  is  generally  pro- 
gressive in  its  character,  and  frequently  destroys  the  heads  of  the 
bones.     But  the  ointment  of  red  iodide  of  mercury  may  be  tried. 

Bin-iodide  of  mercury,  one  drachm;  hog's  lard,  one  ounce; 
mix,  and  apply  by  rubbing  with  the  hand,  once  a  w^eek,  for  a 
month.     Lard  or  oil  the  parts  daily,  between  each  application. 

Stomach  Diseases. — (See  Gastritis,  Mucosa,  Staggers,  Colic 
and  Enteritis.) 

Stone  in  the  Bladder. — Are  those  concretions  named  calculi^ 
formed  in  the  bladder  from  a  diseased  condition  of  the  urine. 

Syjiiptoms.  Pain,  an  occasional  stoppage  in  the  stream  of  the 
urine  before  all  is  passed,  and  a  straddling  gait. 

Treatment.     In  the  province  of  surgery. 

Strains. — (See  Sprains.) 

Strangles. — This  is  an  eruptive  fever,  characterized  by  swelling 
in  and  between  the  bones  of  the  lower  jaw,  terminating  in  an  abscess. 

Cause,  A  specific  poison  in  the  blood,  which  few,  if  any,  liorses 
that  live  ten  j^ears,  ever  escape.  It  especially  attacks  young 
horses,  but  is  often  seen  in  those  of  increased  years.  Sometimes, 
the  enlargement  or  abscess  of  the  strangles  is  seen  on  the  side  of 
tlie  face,  and  even  on  other  portions  of  the  bod}^ 

Treatment.  Give  the  horse  grass,  or  soft  feed,  and  little  or  no 
medicine.  The  appetite  will  return  when  the  abscess  is  opened, 
or  breaks  of  itself.  This  is  the  great  secret  in  the  treatment  of 
strangles.  Do  not  poultice  the  swelling,  as  it  will  only  thicken 
the  skin.  If  anything  is  to  be  done  to  hasten  the  abscess,  rub  in  a 
little  of  the  ointment  of  Spanish  fly.  (See  Medicines  and  Pre- 
scriptions.) 

Stranguary. — This  is  a  name  given  to  the  urine,  when  mixed 
with  blood,  and  when  pain  is  present  while  the  horse  is  urinating. 

Cause.  Irritation  of  the  bladder  or  kidneys,  or  both,  from  the 
use  of  the  Spanish  fly,  either  in  the  form  of  a  blister,  being  too 
extensive,  or  too  near  the  loins  and  kidneys;  also,  from  the  fly 
being  given  in  an  improper  manner  or  in  too  large  doses. 

Syrti'ptoms.  Frequent  desire  to  ])ass  urine,  which  is  in  small 
quantities,  and  bloody.     Pain,  irritation  and  fever  are  present. 


—  403  — 

Treatment.  To  remove  the  pain,  give  twenty  drops  of  the  tinc- 
ture of  aconite  root  every  tliree  hours,  together  with  plent}^  of 
cold  water  to  drink;  also  flaxseed  tea,  to  horn,  or  drench  down 
the  throat  of  the  horse,  and  sheath  the  parts  from  irritating  sub- 
stances. Take  equal  parts  of  good  mustard  and  flour,  mix  with 
warm  water,  make  into  a  soft  paste,  and  lay  over  the  region  of  the 
kidneys,  or  small  of  the  back,  occasionally  moistening  it  with 
warm  water  and  covering  it  with  a  dry  cotton  or  linen  cloth. 

Strangulation. — This  is  a  term  applied  to  a  part  which  is 
tightened,  contracted  or  closed.  Strangulation  and  stricture  are 
terms  im])lying  different  degrees  of  the  same  phenomena.  Thus 
we  speak  of  strangulation  of  the  bowels  from  rupture,  and  of  the 
glottis  or  head  of  the  wind-pipe,  when,  from  some  cause  or  other, 
it  is  closed.  Death  of  the  horse  is  the  result,  if  no  opening  be 
made  lower  down  in  the  wind-pipe,  to  admit  atmospheric  air. 
Stricture  is  that  condition  of  the  wind-pipe  or  glottis  which  when 
contracted  or  pressed  upon  by  enlargement  of  the  glands  of  the 
neck,  or  thickening  of  its  own  membrane,  diminishes  the  space 
or  width  of  its  calibre,  giving  rise  to  thick  wind  and  increased 
breathing  and  cough. 

Stringhalt. — This  is  an  affection  of  the  hind  leg,  and  it  is 
known  from  the  peculiar  way  in  which  the  hind  leg  oi'  legs  are 
raised  from  the  ground — a  quick,  spasmodic  jerk. 

Qmses.  These  are  twofold.  First.  The  loss  of  nervous  influ- 
ence, whereby  the  extensor  pedis  muscle — andpossibl}^  some  others 
— is  deprived  of  its  proper  power.  Second.  The  peculiar  anatomi- 
cal articulation  and  general  structure  of  the  hock-joint  of  the  horse 
are  such  that  when  the  leg  of  a  dead  horse  is  stripped  of  its  mus- 
cles the  ligaments  are  not  disturbed  at  all ;  and  if  the  legs  above 
and  below  the  hock  be  caught  hold  of  by  the  hands,  and  the  leg 
straightened  out,  the  moment  the  hands  are  taken  from  it,  it  will 
spying  into  a  bent  position,  thereby  imitating  stringhalt,  as  near 
as  can  be.  Thus  the  balance  of  power  is  not  equal ;  the  articu- 
iary  ligaments  of  the  hock  are  stronger  than  the  muscles  of  the 
thigh.  Hence,  the  moment  the  horse  lifts  his  foot  from  the 
ground,  the  leg  is  snatched  up  by  the  i)Ower  of  the  articulating 
ligaments. 

Treatment.     Restore   the  lost  nervous  influence ;    thereby    the 


_404  — 

muscles  of  the  thigh  are  to  be  brought  into  healthy  action.  This 
will  best  be  done  by  good  feeding,  and  one  grain  of  strychnia  nux 
vomica  given  daily,  for  six  weeks,  in  the  horse's  feed. 

Stumbling. — Veterinary  writers  are  nearly  all  silent  on  this 
subject,  while  those  who  say  anything  about  it  call  it  a  habit.  In 
this  we  cannot  coincide  with  them,  but  regard  it  as  a  nervous  af- 
fection— a  nervous  debility  resulting  in  atony  of  the  flexor  mus- 
cles of  the  shoulder.  A  stumbler  is  unsafe,  either  for  riding  pur- 
poses, or  for  use  in  single  harness  when  attached  to  a  two-wheeled 
vehicle.    Can  such  an  animal  be  classed  as  sound  f   We  think  not! 

Sunstroke,  Coup  de  Soleil. — This  disease  of  late  years  has 
become  of  such  frequent  occurrence,  that  although  not  mentioned 
bs"  previous  veterinary  writers,  it  demands  a  notice  from  us.  The 
chief  symptoms  are  exhaustion  and  stupidity,  the  animal  usually 
falling  to  the  ground  and  being  unable  to  go  further. 

To  prevent  it,  allow  the  horse  at  short  intervals  a  few  mouth- 
fuls  of  water,  and  fasten  a  wet  sponge  over  the  forehead.  The  sun- 
shades now  used  by  extensive  owners  of  horses,  will  go  very  far 
in  lessening  the  occurrence  of  this  affection. 

The  following  treatment^  when  attended  to  at  once,  in  the  major- 
ity of  cases,  will  prove  effectual. 

First.  Remove  the  horse  from  the  harness  to  a  cool,  shady  place. 
Second.  Give  two  ounces  of  sulphuric  ether ;  twenty  drops  of 
the  tincture  of  aconite  root,  and  a  bottle  of  ale  or  porter  as  a 
drench  to  sustain  the  vital  powers,  and  to  act  as  a  powerful  stim- 
ulant in  equalizing  the  circulation  throughout  the  body  ;  whilst. 
Thirdly.  Chopped  ice  should  be  placed  in  a  coarse  towel,  cloth  or 
bag,  and  laid  between  the  ears  and  over  the  forehead,  secured  in 
any  way  the  ingenuity  of  the  person  in  charge  ma}^  suggest.  If 
the  legs  be  cold,  bandages  will  be  of  advantage.  Do  not  put  the 
horse  to  work  again  until  he  is  completely  restored.  Dumbness  is 
the  usual  result  of  sunstroke — a  species  of  coma — for  v/hich  there 
is  no  cure.  Horses  so  affected  are  of  little  use  in  warm  weather, 
but  are  useful  in  winter. 

Suppuration. — This  signifies  the  secretion  of  pus,  and  is  one 
of  the  terminations  of  inflammation. 

Symjitoms.  Whenever  suj^puration  is  going  on  to  any  extent  in 
or  on  the  body  of  the  horse,  a  shivering  fit,  similar  to  a  chill,  will 


—  405  — 

or  may  be  seen,  followed  in  a  day  or  so,  either  by  the  discharge  of 
a  yellow  pus  from  the  nose,  or  the  formation  of  an  abscess  on  some 
portion  of  the  bod}- .  Suspect  suppuration  when  rigors  and  shiver- 
ing occur,  especially  after  accidents  of  whatever  kind. 

Treatment.  First.  Support  the  strength  of  tlie  horse  by  good 
feeding,  whereby  the  process  will  soon  be  over,  and  without  any 
complication  with  it.  Second.  Do  not  physic  or  bleed,  for  those 
measures  would  prevent  the  process  of  suppuration  from  going  on 
in  its  original  place,  and,  perhaps,  drive  it  to  another.  (See  Met- 
astasis.) 

Surfeit. — (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Swelled  Legs. — (See  Grease,  Sprains,  Debility,  and  Dropsy.) 

Swellings. — These  are  of  different  kinds — the  hard,  inflam- 
matory swelling  caused  by  injury,  suppuration,  and  diseased  bone; 
the  soft  and  fluctuating  swelling,  which  is  generally  circumscribed, 
and  seen  in  diseases  of  the  joints,  as  blood  spavin,  etc.,  and  con- 
tain joint  oil;  the  dropsical,  or  soft  and  Tion-inflammatory  swell- 
ing of  many  and  different  parts  of  the  bod}^  at  one  and  the  same 
time.  Each  must  be  treated  according  to  the  cause  of  the  swell- 
ing.    (See  Farcy.) 

Sweenie. — This  word  or  name  is  so  deeply  buried  in  obscurit}^ 
that  researches  in  every  quarter  have  failed  to  discover  its  origin, 
or  secure  to  it  a  satisfactory  resurrection.  It  applies,  however, 
when  used  by  horsemen,  to  a  falling  away  or  shrinkage  of  the 
muscles  of  the  shoulder  and  indicates  not  so  much  a  lameness  in 
the  shoulder  as  it  does  a  disease  elsewhere — in  the  foot  or  leg,  as 
corns  and  diseases  of  the  pastern  joint.  Atrophy  should  be  sub- 
stituted for  sweenie,  as  it  is  generally  sympathetic,  and,  moreover, 
means  that  the  body  or  a  part  is  diminishing  in  bulk. 

Treatment.  Remove  the  cause  of  atrophy  or  sweenie,  and  the 
effects  will  pass  awa3^ 

Sympathy. — That  condition  which  is  developed  in  one  part  of 
the  system  or  body  of  an  animal,  although  not  of  itself  a  disease, 
but  is  the  result  of  disease  or  accident  happening  to  some  other, 
or  remote  portion  of  the  body.  This  sympathy  is  communicated 
through  and  by  the  nervous  system.  A  nail  in  the  foot,  or  a 
broken  bone,  is  immediately  followed  by  sympathetic  fever,  and 
general  disturbance  of  the  whole  system.     Herein  lies  the  great 


—  406  — 

difiference  between  animal  and  vegetable  life.  A  branch  of  a  bush 
or  a  tree  can  be  lopped  off  without  any  disturbance  to  the  life  or 
health  of  the  main  trunk.  No  such  immunity  exists  in  the  animal 
creation. 

Synovia. — A  clear,  colorless  and  viscid  fluid,  secreted  by  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  joints,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
friction,  and  allowing  an  easy  motion  of  the  heads  of  the  bones 
over  one  anotiier.  Synovia  sometimes  changes  in  quality,  becomes 
thinner  and  gives  rise  to  swellings  of  the  joints.  (See  Blood  and 
Bog  Spavin.) 

Synchronous. — This  name  is  applied  to  the  action  or  beat  of 
the  heart,  when  it  is  in  time  with  the  beat  or  pulsation  of  an 
artery. 

Systole. — The  movement  or  contraction  of  the  heart,  as  the 
systolic  murmur. 

Tabanidce. — A  species  of  flies  which  are  a  great  annoyance  to 
horses. 

Tabes. — Wasting  of  the  muscles  of  the  body.  (See  Mesen- 
terica.) 

Talpae. — A  wart-like  tumor,  easily  removed  with  a  sharp  pair 
of  scissors. 

Teeth. — (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Tetanus. — (See  Locked-jaw.) 

Tetter. — (See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Thick  Wind. — (See  Heaves  and  Broken  Wind.) 

Thick  Leg. — (See  Grease  and  Farcy.) 

Thiselo.— (See  Fistura.) 

Thoroughpin. — An  affection  of  the  hock -joint,  accompanying 
bog  and  blood  spavin,  characterized  by  soft,  fluctuating  swellings, 
containing  fluid  or  joint  oil  in  increased  quantit\%  and  an  altered 
quality. 

Treatment.     The  same  as  for  bog  or'blood  spavins  (which  see). 

Thread  Worms. — (See  Worms.) 

Throat  Diseases. — (See  Bronchitis,  Cold,  and  Catarrh.) 

Thrush. — See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Thrombus. — (See  Jugular  Vein.) 

Thumps. — This  is  spasm  of  the  diaphragm,  or  the  curtain 


—  407  — 

which  hangs  down  and  separates  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  or  the 
belly  from  the  chest. 

Cause.  Over  driving  and  oppression,  paralyzing  the  accessory 
nerve,  and  hence  the  flapping  of  the  diaphragm. 

Treatment.  Place  the  horse  in  a  cool,  airy  place,  and  allow  him 
plenty  of  cold  water,  and  if  the  noise,  after  an  hour  or  so,  does 
not  subside,  give  two  bottles  of  ale  or  porter  as  a  drench. 

Tongue,  Laceration  of  the. — (See  Mouth  Diseases.) 

Tonics. — (See  Medicines  and  Prescriptions.) 

Toxicology. — (The  science  of  poisons,  and  their  antidotes.) 

Tracheotomy. — An  operation  to  open  the  windpipe,  in  cases 
of  closing  of  the  tube  by  tumor,  or  thickening  of  its  membrane. 
It  is  an  operation  rarely  required,  and  moreover,  not  to  be 
attempted  by  a  non-professional  person  not  acquainted  with  the 
art  and  science  of  surgery.  Therefore,  we  will  forego  a  description 
of  it. 

Transfusion. — This  is  the  act  or  operation  of  transferring  the 
blood  of  one  living  animal  into  the  vascular  system  of  another  by 
means  of  a  tube.  The  effect  of  transfusion  is  almost  instan- 
taneous. 

Tread. — (See  Foot  Diseases.) 

Trepanning. — This  is  an  operation  for  opening  into  the  bones 
of  the  head  or  face  to  elevate  or  raise  a  portion  of  bone  which 
from  accident  has  been  depressed  or  fractured.  The  instrument 
used  for  this  purpose  is  called  a  Trephine. 

It  is  designed  to  cut  out  a  circular  portion  of  the  bone,  so  that  a 
smooth  piece  of  iron  is  inserted  in  the  hole,  and  used  as  a  lever  to 
raise  the  depressed  portion  to  its  proper  level. 

Trismus. — ^^(See  Locked-jaw.) 

Tubercles. — (See  Glanders.) 

Tumors. — Tumors  may  be  defined  as  circumscribed  swellings 
of  different  sizes,  without  inflammation,  and  differing  from  one 
another,  according  to  their  situation  and  their  nature. 

(1.)  Encysted  Tumors. — This  is  a  variety  of  tumors  often  seen 
about  the  side  of  the  nose  of  the  horse.  It  is  about  the  size  of  a 
pullet's  egg,  soft,  and  elastic  to  the  touch,  with  no  heat,  inflamma- 
tion, or  soreness  of  any  kind. 

Cause.     Closing  of  the  sebaceous  openings  of  the  part.     Hence 


—  408  — 

the  elevation,  swelling  and  filling  np  of  that  portion  of  the  skin 
which  contains  the  sebaceons  or  suet-like  matter. 

Treatment.  Open  the  part  with  a  knife,  and  inject  for  a  few 
times  into  the  inside  of  the  tumor  a  teaspoonful  of  the  tincture  of 
iodide,  to  kill  the  walls  of  the  cyst.  The  surgeon  sometimes  cuts 
these  tumors  out  in  the  form  of  a  soft  ball  without  opening  them. 
This  requires  a  steady  hand. 

(2.)  Encephaloid. — This  term  means  a  brain-like  tumor,  so 
named  from  its  structure  being  like  that  of  the  brain.  It  is  one 
of  the  kinds  of  cancers  which  sometimes  attack  the  horse,  but  is 
more  frequently  seen  in  the  dog  and  ox. 

Cause.  A  specific  poison  in  the  blood,  not  as  yet  well  under- 
stood. 

Symptoms.  It  is  solid,  hard,  irregular  in  shape,  and  knotty,  with 
no  hair  upon  its  surface,  and  presenting  a  smooth  and  shining 
aspect.  These  tumors  grow  rapidly,  and  finally  break  on  the  top, 
presenting  an  angry  and  malignant  sore  or  ulcer,  which  cannot  be 
healed  without  first  removing  the  entire  tumor  with  a  knife,  and 
treating  it  as  for  a  simple  sore. 

(3.)  Fibroma. — This  is  a  fibrous  or  warty-like  tumor,  familiar 
to  most  persons,  and  is  attached  chiefly  to  the  skin  only. 
It  is  troublesome  only  in  so  far  as  it  is  apt  to  bleed,  thereby 
keeping  up  a  degree  of  irritation — especially  in  warm  weather, 
because  of  the  sweat  and  flies. 

Treatment.  Those  persons  who  have  not  sufficient  nerve  to  cut 
them  off"  with  the  knife  can  take  arsenic,  one  drachm ;  hog's  lard, 
four  drachms;  mix,  and  make  an  ointment;  rubbing  in  and 
around  the  tumor,  once  a  week,  a  small  portion  of  the  salve.  In 
a  short  time  it  will  fall  off". 

(4.)  Fatty  Tumor. — This  is  a  variety  of  tumor  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  horses,  and  is  composed  of  fat,  as  its  name  indicates. 
It  is  sometimes  called  adipose  and  lipoma  by  the  surgeons  of 
continental  Europe. 

Symptoms.  A  round,  ovoid  shape,  with  a  firm  feel,  but  not 
hard  nor  elastic,  or  at  least  not  so  much  so  as  the  encysted  form. 

Treatment.  Take  a  sharp  knife,  and  after  getting  a  twitch  upon 
the  horse's  nose,  and  one  of  the  fore  legs  held  up,  make  a  straight 
cut  ovei  the  centre  of  the  tumor  through  the  skin  onl3\     Then 


—  409  — 

roll  out  the  ball  of  fat  with  the  ihigers  ;  the  knife  here  is  of  no 
use.  The  simply  opening  the  skin,  and  rolling  out  the  fatty 
tumor,  is  called  occulsion,  and  when  cleverl}^  done  looks  well. 

(5.)  Cancerous. — (See  iMelanosis.) 

(6.)  Mp:llanoid. — (See  iMelanosis.) 

(7.)  Bony  Tumors. — A  si)ecies  of  tumor  attacking  the  bone,  and 
is  called  osteo  sarcoma  (which  see).  When  attacking  the  head,  it  is 
called  osteoporosis  (which  see). 

(8.)  Varicose. — The  horse  is  not  often  the  subject  of  varicose 
tumor  of  tlie  veins,  simply  from  the  fact  that  no  garters  or  other 
ligatures  are  tied  around  the  legs,  interfering  with  a  free  circulation. 
The  saphena  major,  however,  is  tlie  only  vein  liable  to  varicose, 
arising  from  bulging  of  the  hock-joint,  and  in  cases  of  bog  and 
blood  sj^avin,  and  thorough-pin  (which  see). 

Tympanitis. — This  term  means  drum-belly,  such  as  occurs  in 
cases  of  flatulent  colic  (which  see). 

Typhia. — Typhinia. — Typhus. — These  are  continued  fevers, 
and  are  lit  up  and  fed  by  a  specific  zymotic  matter  in  the  system 
which  is  generated  when  horses  are  badly  fed  and  crowded  together 
in  an  inadequate  supply  of  air.  The  fevers  of  glanders,  farcy  and 
pyemia  are  good  examples.  The  seeds  of  the  disease  can  only  be 
got  rid  by  the  effectual  destruction  of  the  typhinia — its  existing 
ferment  or  leaven. — (See  Glanders.) 

Typhoid. — A  low  form  of  disease,  accompanied  with  fever. 
Example :  Influenza,  or  catarrhal  fever.  (See  Influenza,  and 
Gastritis  Mucosa.) 

Typhosus. — A  species  of  fever  at  present,  perhaps,  not  very 
clearly  defined,  and  consequent  upon  changes  that  have  taken 
place  in  the  blood  of  horses — a  blood  disease  resulting  in  nervous 
prostration.  It  is  comparatively  a  new  disease,  and  is,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  called  and  known  by  various  names, 
according  to  the  chief  symptom  there  observed.  It  is  known  in 
New  York  as  cerehro  spinal-meningitis  by  those  who  have  seen  the 
disease,  because  it  is  thought  to  be  like  when  a  man  is  affected  in 
the  meninges — or  membranes  which  envelop  the  brain  and  the 
spinal  marrow — producing  choJcing,  distemjjer,  putrid  fever,  paralysis 
of  the  par-vagum,  or  pneumogastric  nerve,  on  account  of  the  chief 


—  410  — 

symptom  being  the  inability  of  the  horse  to  at  least  voluntarily 
swallow. 

The  Symjytoms  of  this  affection  in  the  horse  are  at  first  or  in  the 
early  stage  very  latent  or  hidden.  The  chief  of  them  is  in  the 
quiding  of  tlie  food,  as  the  holding  it  in  the  mouth  and  refusing 
to  swallow  ;  also,  by  placing  a  bucket  of  water  or  otiier  fluid  within 
reach  of  a  horse  so  affected,  when  he  will  place  his  mouth  into  and 
agitate  it,  going  through  the  process  of  deglutition  or  swallowing 
without  consuming.  The  inability  to  swallow  continues  for  some 
days,  w^hen,  from  loss  of  sustenance  and  change  in  the  circulating 
fluid,  the  horse  lies  or  falls  down  exhausted.  It  should  be 
observed  that  while  the  horses  on  Long  Island,  and  on  the  Dela- 
ware flat  lands  could  not  voluntaril}^  swallow,  they  were  enabled 
to  do  so  when  drenched  out  of  a  bottle,  with  their  heads  elevated. 
This  peculiarity,  however,  may  be  ascribed  to  gravitation  having 
its  own  way,  and  to  relaxation  of  the  paralyzed  muscles  of  deglu- 
tition, which,  though  offering  no  assistance,  interpose  nothing. 
Those  cases  that  seem  to  live  but  a  few  days,  as  is  related  by  some 
persons,  die  because  the  symptoms  are  not  observed  until  weak- 
ness and  consequent  inability  to  stand  force  themselves  to  recog- 
nition. There  are  other  symptoms  that  we  might  mention,  but 
they  are  alike  common  to  all  diseases  of  an  asthenic  or  low  or 
depressed  type.  It  is  a  disease  wherein  the  vis  vitse  is  extremely 
low,  and  it  is  consequently  very  fatal — time  not  being  allowed  in 
many  instances  for  the  treatment  to  supply,  through  it  and  the 
vis  a  Tergo,  the  elements  of  nutrition. 

Treatment.  In  a  disease  of  this  kind,  where  nervous  force  is 
almost  gone,  we  suggest  the  diffusible  and  more  fixed  stimulants, 
with  carminatives  and  tonics — which  are  embraced  in  the  follow- 
ing formula,  to  be  given,  mixed  in  a  bottle  of  cold  water,  five  times 
in  the  twenty-four  hours: — Powdered  carbonate  of  ammonia, 
three  drachms;  powdered  capsicum,  two  drachms;  powdered 
pimenta  berries,  four  drachms;  tincture  of  nux  vomica,  twenty 
drops  ;  mix.  Drench  the  horse  with  cold  water  several  times  daily, 
adding  sixty  drops  of  commercial  sulphuric  acid  to  assist  in  sus- 
taining the  flagging  powers  of  life.  Corn  meal  may  also  be  given 
in  the  same  way,  and  for  a  like  purpose. 

By  way  of  experiment,  galvanism  or  electricity  may  be  em- 


—  411  — 

ployed  over  a  blistered  surface  made  along  the  pneumogastric 
nerve  on  each  side  of  the  neck.  Injections  indermically — under 
the  skin — with  strychnine,  may  result  in  gaining  time  for  other 
measures  to  become  effectual  as  a  cure. 

The  cause  of  this  disease  in  horses  does  not  differ,  we  think, 
materially  from  those  that  give  rise  to  like  diseases  in  men  ;  for  on 
the  shore  opposite  to  Long  Island  in  1867,  and  at  the  very  time 
horses  were  affected  with  tlie  disease,  over  400  deaths  were  re- 
corded in  the  human  family  from  an  affection  similar  to  paralysis. 

The  'prevention  of  this  disease,  like  many  others  that  affect 
domestic  animals,  is  more  easily  accomplished  than  the  cure. 
Use  dry  stables;  also  good  feed,  in  which  a  drachm  or  two  of  the 
sulphate  of  iron,  or  five  grains  of  arsenic  should  be  mixed,  and 
given  once  daily,  when  such  diseases  are  in  the  vicinage,  for  eight 
to  ten  days  at  a  time. 

Ulcers. — I  do  not  intend  to  speak  of  internal  ulcers,  as  of  the 
brain,  chest  or  bell}' — they  being  beyond  the  skill  of  the  most 
learned,  much  less  the  non-professional  reader — but  will  confine 
myself  to  external  ulcers,  as  of  the  skin  and  flesh. 

(1.)  Healthy  Ulcers. — These  are  generally  the  result  of  an 
accident,  or  incision  with  a  knife  or  other  instrument.  Every  sore 
which  does  not  heal  by  what  is  called  the  first  intention,  but  sup- 
purates, is  called  a  healthy  ulcer. 

Treatment.  Most  healthy  ulcers  will  heal  of  themselves  :  at  most 
all  that  is  required  to  be  done,  especially  in  warm  weather,  is  to 
keep  the  granulations  (which  see)  from  growing  too  fiist,  and 
above  the  level  of  the  skin:  and  for  this  purpose  apply  a  solution 
of  blue  stone,  or  chloride  of  zinc  as  follows  :  Chloride  of  zinc,  four 
grains  ;  rain  water,  one  ounce  ;  mix.  Or,  powdered  blue  stone,  two 
drachms;  rain  water,  eight  ounces  ;  mix.  One  of  these  mixtures 
maybe  applied  once  a  day,  just  sufficient  to  moisten  the  sore,  and 
keep  proud  flesh  down.  The  simple  ointment  of  the  drug  stores 
is  a  good  healing  salve,  and  should  always  be  in  the  house  and  at 
hand. 

In  neglected  sores,  and  when  proud  flesh  has  grown  up  above 
the  level  of  the  skin  of  the  healthy  part,  take  a  stick  of  caustic 
potassa,  and  hold  one  end  wath  a  piece  of  cloth,  or  stick  one  end 
in  a  goose-quill,  and  touch  the  sore  with  the  other  end  of  the 


—  412  — 

caustic  a  few  times,  till  the  proud  flesh  turns  black.  Repeat  at 
another  time,  if  necessary.  Keep  the  caustic  in  a  tightl}'- corked 
bottle,  or  else  it  will  be  dissolved  into  fluid  when  next  wanted. 

Sewing  the  lips  of  wounds  and  sores  together  is  not  now  much 
practised,  as  the  stitches  are  apt  to  rot,  and  the  parts  swell,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  sewing  gives  way,  thereby  aggravating 
the  sore. 

Adhesive  plaster  is  also  not  advisable,  as,  when  it  is  put  on  over 
the  sore,  it  prevents  the  proper  fluids  thereof  from  being  dis- 
charged, and  the  moisture  serves  to  loosen  the  plaster. 

(2.)  Indolent  Ulcers. — This  variety  of  ulcer  or  sore  usually 
attacks  the  skin  of  the  legs  and  heels  of  horses  (see  Phagadena, 
Grease,  and  Farc}^),  eating  down  into  or  below  the  surrounding 
surface.  It  is  covered  with  a  whitish-gray  matter,  and,  in  some 
few  cases,  small  red  spots  are  seen  looking  through  the  white  cov- 
ering. These  are  granulations,  and  are  possibly  unhealthy  ones. 
(See  Frost  Bites.) 

Cause.  A  bad  habit  of  the  body  and  blood  ;  poor  feeding,  and 
debility. 

Treatment.  Apply  powdered  blue  stone  to  the  ulcer,  to  eat  ofl" 
the  unhealthy  surface.  Then  apply  a  poultice  for  the  night,  made 
of  any  soft,  moist  material — say  boiled  turnips,  carrots,  or  bran 
and  flaxseed  meal,  made  with  a  little  warm  water.  The  face  of  the 
poultice  should  be  covered  with  powdered  charcoal  or  brewer's 
yeast.  Continue  the  treatment  with  an  occasional  poultice,  and 
tlie  solution  of  blue  stone. 

Feed  the  horse  well,  and  give  half-ounce  doses  of  the  sulphate 
of  soda,  once  a  day,  to  purify  and  enrich  the  blood. 

(3.)  Irritable  Ulcer. — Example :  Sores  on  the  pastern-joint 
irritated  by  the  flies,  heat  and  sweat  of  summer. 

Symptoms.  Cannot  be  touched  without  they  bleed  ;  angry-look- 
ing, and  very  sore:  highly  inflamed,  and  extremely  vascular. 

Treatment.  Difficult  to  cure  during  warm  weather,  but  easily 
healed  in  moderate  weather,  when  there  are  few  or  no  flies. 

Dress  the  sore  with  oil  of  olives,  one  ounce ;  creosote,  lialf  an 
ounce  ;  oil  of  turpentine,  half  an  ounce  ;  mix,  and  apply  to  the 
sore  with  a  piece  of  soft  cloth,  once  a  day.  Do  not  let  any  of  the 
mixture  run  down  on  the  hair,  which  will,  if  so  treated,  fall  off". 


—  413  — 

Urinary  Calculi. — (See  Stone  in  the  Bladder.) 

Urine,  Bloody. — (See  Hsematuria.) 

Varicose. — The  enlarged  vein  on  the  hock -joint,  caused  by 
boi2;  and  blood  spavin.     (See  Spavins  and  Tumors.) 

Venesection.     Bleeding  by  opening  a  vein. 

Ventilation. — Fev/  persons  are  aware  of  the  vast  importance 
of  pure,  fresli  air  in  the  maintenance  of  health,  and  the  preven- 
tion of  disease,  in  both  man  and  beast.  However  necessary  pure 
air  is  in  health,  it  is  still  more  so  to  an  animal  when  sick  from 
fever  and  disease;  and  indeed  there  are  diseases  in  which  no 
treatment  can  or  will  be  successful,  no  matter  how  skilfully  di- 
rected, without  pure  fresh  air,  and  cold  water  to  drink.  Show  me 
a  badl}^  ventilated  stable  or  barn,  and  I  will  show  you  in  the 
spring  of  each  year  horses  fevered  and  diseased.  (See  Disinfec- 
tants.) Coughs,  colds,  lung  fever,  influenza,  grease,  scratches,  farcy 
and  glanders,  are  the  results  of  bad  ventilation. 

Who  has  not  heard  with  horror  of  the  Black  Hole  at  Cal- 
cutta, in  which  one  hundred  and  forty-six  men  were  confined  for 
a  few  hours  without  ventilation,  and  onl}^  twenty-three  survived 
the  short  confinement!  Horses  were  confined  only  for  a  few 
hours  without  ventilation,  in  the  case  of  two  military  expeditions 
sent  out  by  England — one  to  Quiberon,  and  the  other  to  Varna — 
in  which  the  hatches  of  the  ships  were  put  down,  and  only  for  a 
short  time,  but  sufficiently  long  to  produce  glanders  in  almost 
every  horse.  Hence,  it  will  be  perceived  that,  without  good  ven- 
tilation, a  high  standard  of  general  health  cannot  be  maintained 
very  long. 

Vives. — A  term  given  to  bastard,  or  an  irregular  variety  of 
strangles.     (See  Strangles.) 

Warts. — (See  Tumors.) 

Warranty. — A  form  of  certificate  given  on  the  purchase  or 
payment  for  a  horse.  There  is  nothing  mysterious,  nor  yet  of 
much  importance,  as  to  the  form  of  a  warrant}^  The  best  forms 
amount  to  nothing,  in  the  eyes  of  the  law.  Horses  are  like  other 
merchandise.  If  not  as  represented,  damages  or  difference  in 
value  can  be  obtained  by  a  j)rocess  of  law,  providing  the  seller 
can  be  found,  and  has  property  which  can  be  levied  upon.  'Tis 
true,  in  such  a  case,  an  action  in  tort  may  be  brought  whereby,  if 


—  414  — 

payment  is  not  made,  he  can  be  sent  to  prison  for  a  while,  or  till 
he  can  claim  the  benefit  of  the  insolvent  act. 

Few  persons  will  bring  an  action  at  court  for  swindling  or  get- 
ting money  under  false  pretences,  by  horse  dealing,  for  it  will  be 
difficult  to  maintain  such  an  action,  and  get  a  verdict  upon  it. 
(See  Soundness.) 

Warbles. — rSee  Skin  Diseases.) 

Water  Farcy. — (See  Dropsy  and  Farcy.) 

Weeping  Eye. — As  its  name  indicates,  this  is  a  flow  of  tears 
from  the  eye  down  the  side  of  tlie  face,  instead  of  through  their 
proper  channel. 

Causes.  Obstruction  in  the  lachrymal  sac,  or  nasal  duct,  from 
a  disease  called  fistula  lachrymalis. 

Treatment.     This  is  the  province  of  the  surgeon  and  anatomist. 

Wens. — The  common  name  for  external  tumors. 

Wheezing. — This  is  a  sound  given  from  a  horse  having  en- 
larged glands,  or  thickening  of  the  membrane  of  the  wind-pipe, 
or  the  glands  pressing  upon  the  head  decreasing  its  calibre.  Whist- 
ling is  caused  by  the  same  alteration  of  structure  in  the  wind-})ipe. 

Whirl- Bone,  a  Sprain  of  the. — (See  Sprains  and  Hock.) 

Wind  Galls. — Are  soft  but  elastic  swellings  or  enlargements. 
They  are  non-inflammatory  in  character,  and  are  produced  by  the 
same  cause,  governed  by  the  same  laws,  and  present  the  same 
phenomena  as  bog,  blood  spavin,  and  other  enlarged  or  distended 
bursa  of  joints,  which  are  all  produced  by,  and  are  evidences  of, 
hard  work.  No  treatment  for  them  will  be  satisffictory,  as  they 
will  return  again,  even  if  they  have  been  removed. 

'Wind- Sucking. — (See  Crib-biter.) 

Worms. — The  worms  which  inhabit  the  body  of  the  horse  are 
of  many  varieties.  Some  of  them  are  harmless,  while  others  in- 
terfere with  his  health.  They  are,  1st,  The  bot  or  oesirus  equi,  found 
inhabiting  the  stomach.  2nd.  The  xstrus  Hsemorrlioidalis  or  Fun- 
damental bot  found  in  the  rectum,  and  often  seen  about  the  anus, 
and  under  the  tail.  3rd.  The  strongylus,  and  Filaria,  found  in 
the  aorta,  and  other  blood  vessels.  4th.  The  ascarides  vermicukms, 
found  in  small  cells  within  the  mucous  covering  of  the  coecum,  or 
blind  gut.     5th.  Filaria,  found  in  the  aqueous  humor  of  the  eye. 

(1.)  Stomach   Bot. — These    worms   are   the   result   of  turning 


—  415  — 

horses  out  to  pasture  in  the  summer  months,  and  are  produced 
from  the  eggs  laid  or  glued  to  the  fore  legs  of  the  horse  hy  the  bot  fly. 

Symjitoms.  An  unthrifty  coat,  and  loss  of  flesh  after  a  run  nt 
grass,  may  be  taken  as  an  indication  that  bots  are  present  within 
the  stomach. 

Treatment.  Improve  the  condition  of  the  horse,  so  that  the  de- 
bilitating effects  of  the  bots'  presence  may  not  interfere  with  the 
general  health  and  condition  of  the  horse ;  for  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  no  medicine  can,  or  will,  dislodge  or  destroy  these  para- 
sites short  of  killing  the  horse  also.  Once  the  eggs  are  in  the 
stomach,  which  seems  to  be  the  natural  nursery  both  for  their  pro- 
tection and  the  propagation  of  their  species,  they  cannot  be  re- 
moved by  force.  In  one  year  from  the  time  the  eggs  are  taken 
into  the  stomach,  will  the  bot  be  a  perfect  chrj^salis,  and  will  fall 
from  the  coats  of  the  stomach,  and  be  expelled  with  the  excreta 
or  dung.  In  a  short  time  after,  it  will  be  provided  with  ivings,  and 
fly  about,  commencing  the  propagation  of  its  species  which  must 
pass  through  the  same  period  of  probation  or  incubation  as  its 
progenitors.  Give  iron  and  gentian,  in  addition  to  good  feeding, 
to  prevent  the  bots  from  debilitating  the  animal  too  much.  Take 
powdered  sulphate  of  iron  and  gentian  root,  each  three  drachms ; 
mix,  and  make  one  dose,  to  be  repeated  twice  a  week. 

(2.)  Fundamp:xt  Bot. — Like  that  of  the  stomach,  but  also  the 
result  of  a  run  to  the  grass.  Instead  of  the  eggs  being  deposited 
upon  the  legs,  they  are  stuck  to  the  muzzle  or  lips  of  the  horse, 
and  are  the  color  of  the  skin,  hence  not  often  seen. 

Syynptoms.  The  following  year,  during  the  summer  months,  the 
lai'va  of  this  species  will  be  seen  sticking  about  the  anus  and 
under  the  tail,  which  in  spirited  horses  prove  a  source  of  great 
uneasiness  and  irritation. 

Treatment.     Injection  of  linseed  oil,  or  tobacco  smoke. 

(3.)  Strongylus. — This  variety,  and  a  species  of  Filaria,  are 
sometimes  found  in  the  blood  vessels,  and  are  similar  in  eff*ects 
produced  in  the  horse,  to  those  seen  in  sheep  affected  with  rot. 

Cause.  Feeding  on  wet  and  marshy  land,  and  pasture  having 
been  flooded  with  water.  Who  has  not  heard  of  the  effects  pro- 
duced from  this  cause,  in  animals  grazed  upon  the  course  of  the 
river  Nile,  in  Egypt,  after  each  inundation? 


—  416  — 

Treatment.  Support  the  strength  b}-  good,  generous  feeding,  and 
give  iron  and  gentian,  each  two  to  three  drachms,  once  a  day,  re- 
moving the  animal  to  high  and  dry  pasture. 

(4.)    ASCARIDES. 

Cause.     A  bad  habit  of  body,  called  cachexia  and  chlorosis. 

Treatment.  Give  iron,  gentian  and  arsenious  acid,  in  the  follow- 
ing manner :  Powdered  sulphate  of  iron,  two  drachms ;  gentian 
root,  two  drachms ;  arsenic,  five  grains ;  mix,  and  give  in  one  dose 
in  mixed,  cut  or  soft  feed,  twice  or  three  times  a  week. 

Wounds, — They  are  divided  into  simple,  incised,  contused, 
lacerated,  punctured  and  poisoned.  Wounds  are  more  or  less 
dangerous  when  entering  the  chest  and  belly,  as  are  also  poisoned 
wounds,  or  those  from  tlie  bite  of  a  mad  dog.     (See  Bites.) 

Wounds  followed  by  bleeding  will  be  found  treated  of  under  the 
article  on  Bleeding  (which  gcc). 

Contused,  lacerated  and  punctured  wounds  are  generally  followed 
by  suppuration  (which  see),  which  should  be  encouraged  by  warm 
poultices  applied  to  the  parts,  and  should  be  kept  freely  open  to 
allow  the  pus  free  escape.  Wounds  entering  the  bell}^  or  chest 
should  be  treated  by  placing  a  pad  over  the  part  to  exclude  the 
air,  followed  by  the  application  used  in  simple  wounds.  Keep 
down  pain  by  giving  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root, 
three  times  a  day,  for  two  days  only.  Poisoned  wounds  will  be 
found  treated  of  under  the  article  on  Bite  of  Mad  Dog  (which  see). 

Wourali. — A  name  given  to  a  poison  which  is  prepared  by  the 
Macousi  Indians,  of  South  America,  and  used  by  them  on  the 
points  of  their  arrows.  This  poison  has  been  advocated  by  some 
in  the  treatment  of  locked-jaw  in  the  horse,  but  in  my  experience 
nothing  favorable  can  be  said  of  it  as  a  cure  for  this  terrible  dis- 
ease. The  power  of  this  poison  is  so  great,  that  in  four  minutes 
after  an  ox,  of  one  thousand  pounds  weight,  was  pierced  in  each 
thigh  b}'  an  arrow  poisoned  with  it,  the  poison  took  eff"ect,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  more  his  head  and  legs  ceased  to  move.  In  twenty 
minutes  from  the  time  he  was  wounded,  the  ox  was  dead,  having 
apparentl}^  died  without  pain. 

Yellows. — Discoloration  of  parts  of  the  skin  from  liver  disease* 
(See  Liver.) 

Yellow  Water. — (See  Liver  Diseases.) 


CHAMPIONS 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  TURF 

an  authentic  article  on  our  foremost 
Trotters,  Pacers,  and  Runners, 

BV 

LESLIE    E.   MACLEOD, 

Editor-in-Chikf  "  Chicago  Horseman." 


—  421  — 

Champions  of  the  American  Turf. 

Training  is  as  important  a  factor  in  the  improvement  and  devel- 
opment of  the  horse  as  is  breeding.  In  this  book  Professor  Gleason 
treats  of  that  l^ranch  of  horse  education  which  he  has  thoroughly 
mastered;  and  it  is  fitting  that,  as  a  complement  to  the  subject-matter 
of  the  volume,  a  condensed  treatise  be  presented,  treating  not  of  the 
method,  but  of  the  result  of  training  in  its  other  branch,  viz.,  training 
for  speed. 

The  great  importance  of  training  as  a  factor  in  breeding  and 
improving  those  breeds  of  horses  in  which  speed  and  endurance  are 
prime  essentials  is  appreciated  by  even  novices  in  the  study  of  the 
science  of  breeding.  The  great  influence  exerted  by  training  on  the 
improvement  of  a  breed,  generation  after  generation,  is  self-evident 
from  the  two  basic  principles  adhered  to  by  all  learned  writers  in  the 
laws  of  inheritance,  viz. :  First,  That  acquired  habits  and  acquired 
capabilities  are  in  greater  or  less  degree  transmitted  from  parents  to 
offspring.  Second,  That  the  structural  character,  as  well  as  mental 
organization  of  animals,  are  modified  by  and  gradually  adapted  to 
their  environments  and  uses.  It  is  thus  by  development  and  by  the 
selection  for  purposes  of  reproduction  of  animals  that  excel  in  special 
required  capacities  that  through  the  courses  of  nature  special  types, 
or  breeds,  are  formed. 

Xo  doubt,  in  the  process  of  the  ages,  all  our  types  of  horses  came 
from  a  common  ancestry.  Generations  of  breeding  for  size  and 
strength,  without  regard  to  speed  or  grace,  have  given  us,  on  the  one 
hand,  the  massive,  slow,  and  ponderous  draft-horse,  weighing  a  ton  or 
more,  the  Norman,  the  Shire,  and  the  Clydesdale  ;  and  on  the  other 
hand,  breeding  and  training  for  speed  for  generativ)ns  has  given  us 
the  fleet,  the  lithe  and  gazelle-like  race-horse,  rarely  much  exceeding  a 
thousand  pounds  in  weight,  glorying  in  his  gift  of  speed,  and  with  the 
finely-toned  muscle  and  ligament,  the  light  but  dense  quality  of  bone, 
the  absence  of  all  useless  and  clogging  bulk,  and  the  perfection  of 
circulatory  and  respiratory  systems  that  all  contribute  to  extreme  and 
sustained  speed. 

My  function  now,  however,  is  no  more  to  dilate  upon  the  philosophy 
of  breeding  race  horses  than  the  method  of  training  them,  but  the 
rather  to  sum  up,  historically  and  statistically,  what  has  been  accom- 


—  422  — 

plished  through  the  science  of  breeding  and  the  art  of  training  applied 
by  human  intelligence  with  the  purpose  of  improving  the  horse  by 
increasing  his  natural  speed  and  endurance. 

From  the  earliest  ages  of  the  human  race,  horse-racing  has  held  its 
place  as  the  noblest  sport.  Just  when  horse-racing  began  we  cannot 
say,  but  history  records  that  chariot-races  were  a  feature  of  the  funeral 
games  of  Patroclus,  in  the  twenty -third  Olympiad,  which  would  be 
about  684  B.  C.  The  Olympic  games,  of  which  racing  was  a  part, 
then  bore  a  semi-religious  character,  for  the  belief  that  the  dead  would 
be  appeased  or  gratified  by  the  things  that  pleased  them  in  life  was  a 
heritage  of  the  early  Greeks  and  Romans,  and  these  games,  including 
chariot-racing,  archery,  wrestling,  and  boxing,  were  generally  held  near 
some  shrine  or  consecrated  spot.  The  hippodrome  in  which  these 
Grecian  races  were  held  was  "  a  race-course  1,200  feet  long  and  400 
feet  wide,  laid  out  on  the  left  side  of  the  hill  of  Kronos,  and  the  whole 
circuit  had  to  be  traversed  twelve  times."  To  the  chariots  were  har- 
nessed two,  three  or  four  horses,  and  that  large  "  fields  "  started  is 
shown  by  the  early  Grecian  poet  Pindar,  who  praises  a  distinguished 
athlete  of  Gyrene,  who  brought  his  chariot  through  uninjured  in  a  race 
where  no  less  than  forty  chariots  started.  None  but  the  rich  and 
powerful  could  aspire  to  this  kingly  sport,  and  "  even  kings  and  tyrants 
eagerly  contested  for  the  palm."  Among  men  enrolled  on  the  list  of 
victors  were  Cyclon,  of  Athens,  the  Spartan  king  Pausanias,  and 
Archelaus,  of  Macedon. 

According  to  Greek  history,  racing  on  horse-back  dates  from  the 
thirty-third  Olympiad,  which  would  be  forty  years  later  than  the 
chariot-racing  first  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  funeral  games  of 
Patroclus.  In  the  Homeric  times  the  prizes  awarded  winners  of 
horse-races  at  the  Olympic  games  were  said  to  be  of  great  richness,  but 
later  the  only  prize  given  the  victor  was  a  garland  of  wild  olives,  cut 
with  a  golden  sickle  from  a  sacred  tree,  whose  branches  Avere,  according 
to  Pindar,  "a  shelter  common  to  all  men,  and  a  crown  of  noble  deeds." 
But  the  greatest  honor  and  prestige  fell  to  a  victor  in  these  ancient 
races.  His  name,  lineage,  and  country  were  proclaimed  by  a  herald, 
the  garland  of  wild  olives  was  taken  from  a  table  of  ivory  and  gold, 
and  placed  on  his  brow,  and  as  he  marched  in  the  sacred  revel  to  the 
temple  of  Zeus  his  path  was  showered  with  costly  gifts,  and  his  name 
was  enrolled  in  the  Greek  calendar.     If  an  Athenian,  he    received 


—  425  — 

upon  his  return  home  "500  drMchnue  and  free  rations  for  life  in  the 
Prytiineura,"  and  if  a  Spartan  he  was  given  the  place  of  honor  in 
battle — the  greatest  distinction  that  a  true  Spartan  could  enjoy.  His 
praises  were  sung  by  the  bards  of  Greece,  such  as  Pindar  and  Euripides, 
and  her  great  sculptors,  like  Praxiteles,  immortalized  him  in  marble. 

The  races  run  in  this  period  of  Grecian  history  were  varied,  includ- 
ing four-horse  chariot-races,  horse-races  with  riders,  loose  races,  two- 
horse  chariot  races,  and  "  special  races  for  under-aged  horses."  How 
the  horses  were  trained  is  not  described,  but  the  entries  were  made 
thirty  days  before  the  games,  and  "the  charioteers  and  riders  went 
through  a  prescribed  course  of  exercise  during  the  intervening  month." 

The  ancient  Roman  sports  were  closely  similar  to  those  of  Greece, 
and  racing  was  a  prominent  feature  of  the  "Roman  circus.  "  For  the 
Roman  world,"  a  writer  says,  "  the  circus  was  at  once  a  political  club, 
a  fashionable  lounge,  a  rendezvous  of  gallantry,  a  betting-ring,  and  a 
play-ground  for  the  million."  The  Circus  Maximus  would  seat  350,000 
people.  Chariot-racing  was,  according  to  legend,  included  in  the 
games  inaugurated  by  the  Tarquin  kings  in  the  sixth  or  seventh  century 
B.  C,  and  it  is  recorded  that  in  329  B.  C.  stalls  were  erected  for 
chariots  and  horses  in  the  jlJircus  Maximus.  The  Roman  games  were 
at  their  height  in  the  recklessly  prodigal  Caesarian  age,  and  the  revenues 
of  whole  provinces  were  squandered  in  these  stirring  spectacles.  The 
chariots  were  started  in  an  oblique  line,  so  that  the  outer  one  might  be 
compensated  for  the  extra  distance  it  had  to  travel.  The  horses  and 
men  were  furnished  by  the  rich  owners  of  studs,  and  the  charioteers, 
though  mostly  slaves,  were  greatly  esteemed  for  their  skill.  "  The 
stigma  under  which  a  gladiator  lay  never  attached  to  his  calling," 
writes  a  historian.  The  races  were  sometimes  seven,  but  oftener  four- 
teen times  around  the  circus — about  five  miles.  Another  variation  of 
ancient  Roman  horse-racing  was  races  of  riders  who  each  had  two 
horses,  and  leaped  from  the  one  to  the  other  during  the  'contest.  The 
best  racers  of  that  day  were  said  to  have  been  the  Sicilian,  Spanish, 
and  Cappadocian  horses. 

At  a  later  period  in  Rome,  in  the  time  of  Pope  Sextus  V — the  latter 
part  of  the  sixteenth  century — racing  was  pursued  with  great  ardor  in 
Rome.  Riderless  horses  (barberi)  ran  at  the  Roman  carnival,  and  the 
chroniclers  say  that  Pope  Sextus  caused  a  lane  to  be  inclosed  with 
palisades  in  the  centre  of  a  street,  so  that  the  horses  in  racing  might 


—  426  — 

not  iujure  the  populace,  and  he  also  made  the  people  desist  from 
trickery  to  impede  the  barberi,  and  interfere,  and  thus  enable  some 
favorite  to  \vin. 

Many  of  our  racing  customs  have  the  flavor  of  antiquity.  The 
Roman  jockeys  wore  gayly  colored  jackets  and  caps,  as  do  ours  ;  a 
trumpet  summoned  the  contestants  to  the  race,  as  the  modern  bugle 
called  the  horses  to  the  post,  and  our  "  flag  "  had  its  counterpart  in  the 
handkerchief  which  the  Roman  judge  dropped  as  a  signal  to  start. 

Some  writers  declare  that  the  Romans  introduced  horse-racing  into 
Britain,  alleging  that  remains  of  race-courses  at  York  and  other  places 
are  relics  of  the  time  when  "  Rome,  for  Empire  far  renowned,  trampled 
on  a  thousand  States."  Others  contest  that  racing  came  into  Britain 
through  German  sources,  horse-racing  being  "  an  accompaniment  of  the 
religious  cults  of  some  of  Germanic  tribes."  To  whichever  people 
belongs  the  honor  of  introducing  the  sport  into  England,  it  is  certain 
that  Romans  during  their  sway  encouraged  it.  The  first  specific  record 
we  have  of  horse-racing  as  a  sport  in  England  is  in  the  writings  of 
Fitz  Stephen,  a  Canterbury  monk,  who  describes  the  races  run  at 
Smithfield  in  the  twelfth  century,  whither  came  "  earls,  barons,  knights, 
and  a  swarm  of  citizens."  He  describes  the  impatience  and  velocity 
of  the  horses,  the  efforts  of  the  jockeys  with  whip  and  spur,  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  people.  An  Australian  writer  somewhat  flippantly 
describes  \yilliam  the  Conqueror  as  "  an  ardent  sport,"  and  credits  a 
certain  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  of  that  time  with  being  the  first  to  import 
horses  from  Spain  for  the  improvement  of  the  breed  of  English  horses. 
Knights  raced  at  Whitsuntide  in  the  reign  of  Richard  I,  for  "  ready 
gold  ;"  racing  was  encouraged  by  King  John,  and  running  horses 
were  amons:  the  assets  of  Edward  III.  The  wars  of  the  houses  of 
York  and  Lancaster  interrupted  racing  and  breeding,  but  it  revived 
in  the  Tudor  period.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII  public  races  were 
established  at  Chester.  This  monarch  encouraged  racing  and  breeding, 
and  his  great  minister,  Cardinal  Woolsey,  was  "  a  confirmed  lover  of 
horses  "  and  an  extensive  breeder.  Queen  Elizabeth  actively  engaged 
in  racing,  keeping  a  stable  of  race-horses  in  training  at  Greenwich,  and 
during  the  reign  of  James  I  racing  and  breeding  received  a  mighty 
impetus.  The  young  king  brought  with  him  from  Scotland  the  love 
of  fleet  horses,  and  he  imported  Arabian  and  barb  horses  extensively. 
The  great  hold  which  the  turf  has  upon  the  English  people,  and  its 


—  429  — 

firm  establishment  as  a  national  institution  may  be  attril)uted  iu  no 
small  degree  to  tlie  solidity  lent  its  foundation  and  early  development 
by  "  rich  and  powerful  barons  and  ecclesiastics."  It  has  truly  been 
the  sport  of  kings.  Thus  we  trace  in  vague  outlines  the  history  of 
horse-racing  from  the  mists  of  antiquity  to  its  firm  establishment  in 
England,  from  which  crude  beginning  has  grown  and  developed  the 
great  turf  system  of  to  day  in  the  Old  and  New  World. 

Horse-racing  was  introduced,  of  course,  into  America  from  England, 
and  all  our  most  valued  breeds  of  racing-horses — whether  under  saddle 
or  in  harness — rest  upon  a  foundation  of  English  blood. 

For  the  purposes  of  systematization  we  will  separately  and  in  order 
consider  the  achievements  of  the  three  breeds  of  American  turf  horses  : 

(1st)  Thoroughbreds  or  running  horses;  (2d)  trotting  horses,  and 
(3d)  pacers. 

Thoroughbred  Race-Horses. 

The  earliest  races  in  America  of  which  we  have  historic  note  occurred 
at  Hempstead  Heath,  on  Long  Island,  about  1665.  Richard  Nichols, 
then  Governor  of  the  province,  was  an  admirer  of  fine  horses,  and 
criticized  the  Dutch  or  Flemish  breeds  as  better  adapted  to  slow  labor 
than  fleetness  or  display.  He  accordingly  had  a  race-course  prepared 
in  Long  Island,  and  ordered  that  a  plate  be  run  for  every  year.  Horse- 
racing  was  also  indulged  in  moderately  in  Virginia  and  Maryland  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  early  in  that  century  English  racing 
breed  horses  were  imported.  There  is  a  record  of  a  race  run  in  South 
Carolina,  at  Charleston  Neck,  in  1734,  for  a  prize  of  $20.00.  In  the 
following  year  a  jockey  club  was  organized  at  Charleston.  So  the 
racing  spirit  gradually  grew  along  the  Atlantic  Coast  until  the  War 
of  the  Revolution.  After  that  happily-terminated  event  and  the  firm 
establishment  of  the  Republic,  the  importation  of  race-horses  from 
England  became  common,  and  in  this  way  the  horse-stock  of  this 
country  was  enriched  by  the  blood  of  such  Derby  winners  as  Diomed, 
winner  of  the  first  Derby,  Saltran,  winner  in  1783,  Sir  Henry,  winner 
in  1798,  and  Priam,  winner  in  1830.  Two  later  importations  that 
have  bestowed  upon  the  American  breed  incalculable  benefit  were 
Glencoe,  imported  in  1836,  and  Leamington,  imported  in  1865.  There 
is  hardly  a  good  racing  tribe  in  America  but  has  the  blood  of  Glencoe ; 
and  Leamington  gave  us  such  great  sires  as  Longfellow,  Eolus,  En- 


—  430  — 

quirer,  Eeform,  Aristides,  Iroquois,  the  only  American  horse  that  ever 
won  the  Derby,  etc. 

Our  purpose  is  merely  to  indicate  here  the  foundation,  not  to 
minutely  trace  the  history  and  development  of  racing  in  America — 
now  a  vast  business,  in  which  millions  of  dollars  are  invested,  and 
which  is  rapidly  increasing  in  commercial  as  well  as  sporting  importance. 

The  net  result  of  progress  may  be  given  in  the  following  table, 
showing  the  fastest  records  and  weight  carried  by  American  thorough- 
bred race-horses  at  various  distances  : 

Distance. 
^  mile.    Kingston,  A,  128  pounds,  at  Monmouth  Park,  July  12th,  1892,  .    1.26 

J      "        Bella  B,  5,  103  pounds,   at  Monmouth  Park,  July  8th,  1890, 

(straight  course), 1.23j 

Salvator,  4,  110  pounds,  at  Monmouth  Park,  August  28th,  1890, 

(against  time,  straight  course) 1.35j 

1        "        Racine,  3,  107  pounds,  at  Chicago  (Washington  Park),  June 

28th,  1890,       1.39J 

1        * '        La  Tosca,  3, 105  pounds,  at  New  York  Jockey  Club,  October  10th, 

1891, ' 1.39^ 

1  "        Major  Domo,  5,  116  pounds,  at  Sheepshead  Bay,  June  2Sth, 

1892, 1.39^ 

1^  miles.  Yo  Tambien,  3,  99  pounds,  Chicago  (Washington  Park),  July 

19th,  1892, 1.45J 

1^      "       Tristan,  5,  114  pounds,  at  New  York  Jockey  Club,  June  2d, 

1891, ' 1.51J 

1\      "        Salvator,  4,  123  pounds,  at  Sheepshead  Bay,  June  25th,  1890,  .    2.05 
1^       "        Banquet,  3,  108  pounds,  Monmouth   Park,  July  17th,  1890, 

(straight  course), 2.03| 

1^      "        Lamplighter,  3,  109  pounds,  at  Monmouth  Park,  August  9th, 

1892, 2.321 

2  "        Ten  Broeck,  5,  110  pounds,  Louisville,  May  29th,  1877  (against 

time), 3.27^ 

2  "        Wildmoor,  6,  Kansas  City,  September  29th,  1882, 3.28 

2i       "        Aristides,  4,  104  pounds,  Lexington,  May  13th,  1876, 4.27J 

3  "        Drake  Carter,  4,  115  pounds,  Sheepshead  Bay,  September  6th, 

1884 ' 5.24 

4  "        Ten  Broeck,  4,  104  pounds,  Louisville,  September  27th,  1876, 

(against  time), 7.15| 

4        "       Fellow  Craft,  4, 108  pounds,  Saratoga,  August  20th,  1874,  .    .    .    7.19^ 

The  most  famous  American  race-horses  of  this  decade,  and  probably 
the  greatest  horse  ever  bred  in  America,  is  Salvator.  the  chestnut  son 


—  433  — 

of  imported  Prince  Charlie  and  Salina,  daughter  of  Lexington. 
Except  in  two  races  as  a  green  two-year-old,  and  once  when  palpably 
out  of  condition  as  a  three-year-old,  he  was  never  ])eaten,  and  at  his 
best  he  was  invincible  at  any  distance.  Salvator  was  foaled  in  1886, 
at  the  Elmendorf  Stud,  Kentucky,  and  as  a  yearling  was  purchased  by 
the  California  millionaire,  turfman,  breeder,  and  miner,  J.  B.  Haggin. 
As  a  two-year-old  he  won  the  Flatbush,  Maple,  Tuckahoe,  and  Titan 
stakes,  and  ran  second  to  the  famous  Proctor  Knott  in  the  "  Futurity." 
As  a  three-year-old  he  defeated  the  best  horses  of  his  year,  winning 
eight  out  of  the  nine  races  in  which  he  started,  among  his  victories 
being  the  Realization  Stakes  at  Is  miles,  the  Lorillard  at  IJ  miles, the 
Tidal  at  1  mile,  and  the  September  Stakes,  with  129  pounds  up,  at  If 
miles.  As  a  four-year-old,  Salvator  was  king  of  the  American  turf, 
his  duels  with  Tenny  being  the  sensation  of  the  year.  With  127 
pounds  up  he  won  the  Suburban  Handicap  at  li  miles  in  2.06^,  and  in 
a  match  with  Tenny  at  the  same  distance,  won  the  greatest  race  in  the 
American  turf  history  in  2.05.  He  again  met  and  decisively  demon- 
strated his  superiority  over  his  great  rival,  Tenny,  by  beating  him  with 
ease  in  the  Champion  Stakes  at  li  miles  at  Monmouth.  Later,  over 
the  same  track  he  started  to  lower  the  mile  record  made  by  Ten  Broeck 
in  1877,  and  accomplished  the  feat  in  l.SSJ,  which  is  the  champion 
record  of  the  world.  Salvator  retired  from  the  turf  with  laurels  un- 
dimmed  and  in  his  prime.  He  is  monarch  of  the  Rancho  Del  Paso 
Stud,  in  California. 

Of  the  race-horses  of  1892  the  champion  two-year-olds  are  Morello 
and  Helen  Nichols.  The  best  three-year-olds  are  Yo  Tambien,  Lamp- 
lighter, Tammany,  and  the  best  "  aged  "  horse,  Banquet. 

Morello,  the  winner  of  the  $70,000  Futurity,  is  by  Eolus,  out  of 
Cerise,  and  is  a  colt  with  a  history  that  reads  like  a  romance.  Morello 
is  the  fruit  of  the  first  mating  of  Eolus  and  Cerise.  The  colt  was  a 
good-looking  youngster,  but  had  bad  hocks,  and  expert  horsemen  pro- 
nounced him  unsound,  so  that  when  Morello  was  led  into  the  sale- ring 
in  the  paddock  at  the  Brooklyn  track  on  May  17th,  1890,  an  auctioneer 
could  not  secure  a  bid  on  him,  and  was  about  to  w'ithdraw  him  from 
the  sale,  when  Bernard  Doswell,  of  Virginia,  bid  $100  for  him,  and 
amid  the  laughter  of  the  turfmen  who  were  present,  secured  the  colt. 
Morello  was  shipped  to  Virginia,  but  did  not  show  well  in  his  yearling 
trials     He  was  taken  up  after  a  month's  rest,  and  trained  so  as  to  sell 


—  434  — 

him  to  some  person  who  raced  horses  at  the  winter  tracks.  He  had 
been  in  training  only  a  few  weeks  when  he  was  asked  to  work  a  half- 
mile,  and  he  surprised  Mr.  Doswell  by  running  the  half-mile  in  51 
seconds  over  a  track  that  is  fully  three  seconds  slower  than  any  of  the 
reo-ular  tracks.  He  improved,  and  worked  a  second  faster  a  few'  weeks 
later.  At  this  time  Frank  Van  Ness,  a  trottiiig-horse  driver  and 
trainer,  who  raced  in  a  small  way,  made  his  appearance,  and  without 
an  hour's  delay  secured  the  colt  for  $4,500,  and  $500  the  first  race  he 
won.  It  was  later  learned  that  the  capitalist  behind  Van  Ness  was 
AVilliam  M.  Singerly,  of  Philadelphia. 

For  the  great  Futurity  race  Morello  was  so  ill  with  distemper  when 
he  went  to  the  post  that  he  was  running  at  the  nose.  ''  He's  the  favorite 
down  there  in  the  ring,"  said  Hayward,  who  rode  him,  to  Garrison,  who 
w'as  on  Lady  Violet,  "and  if  he  wins  he  is  a  wonder.  If  he  loses,  I 
will  be  roasted,  but  I'll  take  no  chances  if  I  can  get  him  in  front." 
Garrison  said  after  the  race,  "  After  what  Hayward  said  I  made  up  my 
mind  if  I  could  get  up  to  Morello  and  fetch  him  to  a  drive  I  could 
beat  him,  but  sick  as  he  was  I  could  not  get  close  enough  to  him  to 
make  him  stop."  How  Morello  won  the  870,000  prize  has  been  told 
and  retold,  and  his  later  feats  stamp  him  as  the  best  two-year-old  of 
1892. 

The  Western  filly,  Helen  Nichols,  is  surely  the  two-year-old  queen 
of  the  period.  She  is  a  chestnut,  Tennessee-bred  filly  by  Iroquois,  and 
is  owned  by  J.  J.  McCafierty,  of  Chicago,  who  is  also  her  trainer  and 
jockey.  She  has  started  eleven  times,  and  been  beaten  but  once— a 
phenomenal  two-year-old  record.  Her  latest  and  most  notable  victory 
was  in  the  White  Plains  handicap  at  Morris  Park,  which,  with  126 
pounds  in  the  saddle,  she  won  in  the  wonderfully  fast  time  for  the  dis- 
tance— three  quarters  of  a  mile— of  1.11.  Among  her  other  notable 
victories  were  the  Essex  stakes  and  Mount  Vernon  stakes  at  Morris 
Park;  the  Willow  stakes  at  Brooklyn;  the  Colleen  stakes  at  Mon- 
mouth, and  the  Debutante  stakes  at  St.  Louis.  Helen  Nichols  will 
be  one  of  the  stars  of  1893. 

Yo  Tambien  is  another  Western  queen,  and  unquestionably  the  best 
three-year  old  mare,  if  not,  indeed,  the  best  three-year  old  of  any  sex 
of  1892.  Eastern  critics  will  dispute  this,  for  her  true  form  was  never 
shown  in  the  East,  she  being  fouled  and  almost  thrown  down  in  her 
only  race  on  a  New  York  track.     But  a  dispassionate  analysis  of 


imt"'  :M-i3^i 


^,  -iF  .-.  ■^.^"^^;  '^^psmm^ 


/-♦'"*' 


r 


—  437  — 

three  year-old  events  shows  her  certainly  the  peer,  and  I  think  the 
superior  of  either  Tammany,  or  Lamplighter,  or  Yorkville  Belle.  Yo 
Tajnl)ien  was  bred  by  Theodore  Winters  in  California,  and  was  got  by 
Joe  Hooker  out  of  Marion,  daughter  of  Malcolm,  son  of  Bonnie 
Sc  )tland.  All  of  the  family  of  Marion  are  renowned.  Her  sons,  EI 
Rio  Rey,  Emperor  of  Norfolk,  and  The  Czar,  were  champions  of  the 
first  rank,  and  her  daughter,  Yo  Tambien,  is  the  equal  of  any  of  them. 
She  is  a  beautiful  mare,  of  great  intelligence  and  stubborn  gameness, 
as  well  as  phenomenal  speed.  She  has  been  beaten  fairly  but  once  as 
a  three-year-old,  and  on  that  occasion  she  was  conceding  15  pounds  to 
the  good  horse  Bashford.  At  Washington  Park,  at  Chicago,  she  met 
and  beat  not  only  the  best  of  her  own  age,  but  of  all  ages.  She  won 
the  Boulevard  stakes  in  a  gallop  ;  repeated  the  victory  in  the  Drexel 
stakes,  and  won  easily  at  1  Jg,  in  1.45t,  the  fastest  time  on  record. 
But  her  most  notable  victory  was  in  the  Great  Western  handicap  at 
Ik  miles.  Conceding  lumps  of  weight  to  not  only  horses  of  her  own 
age,  but  of  all  ages,  she  beat  them  all  impressively  in  the  best  race  won 
by  a  three-year-old  in  1892,  running  the  distance  in  2.331 — certainly  a 
better  performance  than  Lamplighter's  2.321  over  the  straight  track  at 
Monmouth. 

Lamplighter,  the  three -year-old  brown  son  of  Spendthrift  (the  sire 
of  Kingston)  and  the  imported  mare  Torchlight,  was  brought  out  by 
S.  S.  Brown,  the  coal  baron  of  Pittsburgh,  and  created  something  of  a 
sensation  by  runnino^  third  in  the  Surburban  handicap,  an  event 
in  which  a  three  year-old  seldom  shows  prominently.  He  has  won 
ten  out  of  sixteen  races  as  a  three-year-old,  a  good  showing ;  but  as 
yet  Lamplighter  has  been  an  uncertain  horse,  an  in-and-outer,  a  good 
horse  to-day  and  a  bad  one  to-morrow,  and  unless  he  improves  in  this 
respect  as  a  four-year-old  he  can  never  be  classed  with  such  honest  and 
consistent  champions  of  the  past  as  The  Bard  and  Salvator. 

Lamplighter's  greatest  performance  was  at  Monmouth  Park  on 
August  9th,  when  he  met  such  notably  great  performers  as  Banquet, 
Raceland,  Montana,  Poet  Scout,  De  Math,  and  Locohatchee  on  even 
terms  in  the  Champion  stakes  (one  mile  and  a  half)  and  beat  them 
easily.  It  was  the  best  field  of  all  aged  horses  that  the  season  had 
seen,  and  there  was  not  one  of  the  contestants  but  had  a  host  of 
friends.  Lamplighter  waited  on  his  opponents  until  they  were  well 
in  the  home-stretch  and  then    he   galloped  over  them  one  by  one, 


—  438  — 

stringiDg  them  out  in  a  line  at  the  finish.  The  time,  2.32f,  is  the 
best  on  record  for  a  mile  and  a  half.  Immediately  after  this  race 
Lamplighter  was  purchased  by  Pierre  Lorillard  for  830,000. 

Tammany,  whom  many  believed  to  be  the  best  race-horse  in 
America  to-day,  is  a  chestnut  sun  of  Iroquois  (the  horse  that  Pierre 
Lorillard  won  an  English  Derby  with),  and  is  owned  by  Marcus  Daly, 
the  Montana  "  Copper  King."  Tammany  was  not  a  really  remarkable 
two-year-old,  though  he  won  the  great  Eclipse  stake,  worth  over  $24,000, 
at  Morris  Park,  but  his  three  year-old  winning  performances  stamped 
him  as  a  very  high-class  race-horse.  These  include  the  Wither  stakes 
at  one  mile  at  Morris  Park,  where  he  beat  among  others  Yorkville 
Belle  and  Mars ;  the  Realization  stakes  at  II  miles  at  Coney  Island, 
beating  The  Pepper,  Patron,  and  others,  and  the  Lorillard  stakes  at 
If  at  Monmouth,  where  he  defeated  The  Pepper,  Yorkville  Belle, 
Huron,  Azra,  Mars,  and  Shellbark  easily  in  2.20J,  the  fastest  time  on 
record  at  the  weight  and  distance.  His  total  winnings  in  1892  exceed 
850,000.  Tammany  has  never  met  Lamplighter,  and  should  they  meet 
as  four-year-olds  the  result  should  be  a  sensational  event. 

Banquet,  the  best  horse  of  the  "  aged  "  division  in  1892,  enjoys  that 
distinction  merely  because  there  were  no  really  great  "  aged  "  horses 
on  the  turf  in  1892.  Banquet  is  merely  a  good  second-class  race-horse. 
He  is  honest,  hardy,  and  game — a  great  bread-winner,  though  he 
never  won  a  really  great  race.  He  was  bred  by  the  late  W.  L.  Scott, 
of  Erie,  Pa.,  and  made  dehut  on  the  turf  in  the  white  and  yellow  silk 
of  the  dead  statesman.  He  is  a  full  brother  to  the  somewhat  noted 
Tea  Tray,  being  by  imported  Rayon  d'Or  out  of  Ella  T.  by  War 
Dance,  and  was  a  very  ordinary  two  and  three-year-old.  But  in  the 
hands  of  the  Brooklyn  plunger,  M.  F.  Dwyer,  he  has  proved  a  sterling 
handicap  horse,  winning  this  season  no  less  than  twelve  races. 

Trotting  and  Pacing  Horses. 

In  equine  history  the  American  can  read  no  more  interesting  chapter 
than  the  story  of  the  evolution  of  the  trotting  breed  of  hoi-ses.  The 
trotter  is  peculiarly  the  American  horse — the  only  important  variety 
indigenous  to  American  soil.  The  breed  is  much  less  than  a  century 
old,  and  its  progress  in  speed,  in  value,  and  in  production  during  the 
last  thirty  years  has  been  marvelous. 

Racing  at  various  gaits  became  prevalent  in  "  the  old  Colonial  days." 


I.    m 


■J   * 


m     •^ 
^^     ■ 

-  i 


—  441  — 

In  1748  the  New  Jersey  Legislature  enacted  a  law  to  restrain  "all 
running,  pacing,  and  trotting  races."  Although  there  is  not,  as  far  as 
1  can  learn,  specific  mention  in  colonial  history  of  trotting  races,  the 
fact  that  the  New  Jersey  authorities  found  their  suppression  advisable 
leaves  no  doubt  that  racing  at  the  trotting  gait  was  very  prevalent  at 
that  early  day. 

The  revival  in  trotting  did  not  begin  to  gather  force  until  about 
1830,  and  since  then  improvement  in  speed  has  been  continual  and 
rapid.  It  was  not  until  1844  that  a  trotter  went  a  mile  in  harness  in 
"  2.30  or  better,"  Lady  Suffolk  achieving  that  honor,  her  record  being 
2.262.  Then,  as  now,  the  pacing  gait  was  faster  than  the  trotting  gait, 
for  Drover  had  paced  a  mile  in  2.28  in  1839 ;  and  in  the  same  year 
that  Lady  Suffolk  had  trotted  in  2.26 J  Unknown  paced  to  wagon  a 
mile  in  2.23.  The  next  great  epochal  year  in  trotting  history  was 
1869,  when  the  little  mare,  Flora  Temple,  astonished  the  world  by 
beating  2.20,  doing  the  mile  in  2.19t  ;  and  it  was  not  until  1884  that 
the  2.10  mark  was  passed  by  Maud  S.,  long  the  queen  of  the  trotting 
turf.  Maud  S.,  though  she  has  been  in  practical  retirement  in  Mr. 
Robert  Bonner's  stables  for  several  seasons,  and  no  longer  the  holder 
of  the  championship  trotting  record,  is  still  a  central  figure  among  star 
trotters  of  to-day — and  she  is  every  inch  a  queen.  Mand  S.  was  bred 
at  Woodburn  Farm,  Kentucky,  and  was  foaled  there  in  1874.  Her 
sire  is  Harold,  son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  and  her  dam  is  Miss 
Russell  (also  the  dam  of  the  famous  Nutwood,  2.18 f)  by  Pilot,  Jr.,  the 
grand-dam  being  the  thoroughbred  Sally  Russell,  by  Boston.  When 
young  the  filly  was  sold  from  Woodburn  for  $250  ;  at  three  years  old. 
Captain  Stone,  of  Cincinnati,  paid  $350,  and  named  her  Maud  S. ;  in 
her  four-year-old  form  she  trotted  a  trial  faster  than  any  four-year-old 
had  trotted  to  that  date  ;  and  on  the  strength  of  this  trial  was  sold  to 
the  late  William  H.  Vanderbilt  for  $21,000. 

The  first  public  appearance  of  Maud  S.  was  at  Chicago,  July  6th, 
1880,  in  a  race  which  she  easily  won  in  a  comparatively  slow  time  ; 
but  her  second  race,  also  at  Chicago,  July  24th,  1880,  made  her  the 
sensation  of  the  hour,  she  beating  the  great  mare  Trinket,  and  trotting 
the  third  heat  in  2.18] — that  remaining  on  record  for  many  years  as 
the  fastest  heat  ever  trotted  in  a  race.  Victory  after  victory,  with 
never  a  defeat,  was  added  to  her  list,  until  there  was  nothing  of  flesh 
and  blood  to  race  against,  and  she  entered  the  lists  against  the  inexor- 


—  442  — 

able  challenger  of  champions  of  Time.  The  king  of  the  turf  of  that 
day  was  St.  Julien,  of  a  record  of  2. Hi,  and  Maud  S.,  after  two  un- 
successful attempts,  lowered  that  record  to  2.101  at  Chicago,  September 
20th,  1880.  The  following  year  she  lowered  the  record  to  2.10t,  and 
there  it  remained  until  August  1st,  1884,  when  the  wonderful  little  black 
gelding.  Jay  Eye  See,  trotted  the  Providence  track  in  2.10.  But  he 
was  kiug  only  a  day,  for  the  following  afternoon  Maud  S.  again  proved 
her  supremacy  by  trotting  the  Cleveland  track  in  2.091.  The  owner- 
ship of  30  famous  a  trotter  brought  its  annoyances  to  Mr.  Vanderbilt, 
and  as  Mr.  Bonner  made  overtures  for  her  purchase,  she  became  his 
at  840,000.  In  November  she  further  reduced  her  record  to  2.09t,  and 
on  July  oOth  of  the  following  year,  at  Cleveland,  she  set  the  world's 
trotting  record  at  2.081.  It  stood  unequaled  for  over  six  years,  until 
another  of  Mr.  Bonner's  horses  lowered  it. 

One  of  the  most  sensational  trotters  of  this  age  has  been  the  Califor- 
nia filly  Sunol.  This  young  mare  was  bred  by  Senator  Leland  Stan- 
ford at  his  famous  Palo  Alto  ranch,  in  the  Santa  Clara  Valley, 
California,  and  was  foaled  in  1886.  Senator  Stanford  is  an  enthusiastic 
lover  of  the  trotting-horse,  and  he  is  more  than  that.  He  has  not 
followed  beaten  paths,  either  breeding  or  training,  but  has  departed 
boldly  from  conventional  conceptions  and  old  time  methods,  and  has 
eminently  succeeded.  On  training,  Senator  Stanford's  views  are  radical. 
He  inaugurated,  and  his  former  trainer,  Charles  Marvin,  the  most 
skillful  man  of  his  profession,  carried  out  and  perfected  what  is  now 
known  as  the  "  Palo  Alto  "  system  of  training  trotters.  Sunol  is  a 
tall,  stately  bay  mare,  considerably  taller  at  the  quarter  than  at  the 
wither,  and  was  a  phenomenon  from  her  first  day's  training.  Her 
besetting  sin  has  been  an  irritable  disposition,  an  extremely  irritable 
organization,  and  her  early  training  was  pursued  under  difficulties 
which  only  a  man  of  Marvin's  unequalled  skill  and  patience  could 
overcome. 

In  1881  another  Palo  Alto-bred  mare,  Wild  Flower,  had  made  a 
two-year-old  record  of  2.21,  and  that  had  not  since  been  approached, 
but  Senator  Stanford's  aim  is  to  breed  early  speed,  and  when  Sunol 
promised  so  well  as  a  two-year-old  it  was  determined  to  lower  the  two- 
year-old  record  if  possible.  In  her  first  attempt  against  the  record  at 
San  Francisco  she  trotted  in  2.20?,  and  a  week  later  she  covered  the 
mile  without  a  falter  in  her  gait  in   2.18.     As  a  three-year-old  Sunol 


—  445  — 

was  the  star  of  the  Pacific  coast,  and  so  unexpectedly  brilliant  were 
her  performances  that  even  the  triumphs  of  her  two-year-old  year 
were  dimmed  by  comparison.  It  was  a  duel  throughout  the  season 
between  Axtell  and  Sunol  for  the  three-year-old  championship.  First 
Axtell  lowered  the  three-year-old  trotting  record  to  2.I62  at  Minneap- 
olis, July  2d,  and  on  August  1st,  at  Cleveland,  he  again  lowered  it  to 
2.141.  At  Chicago,  August  3d,  he  further  reduced  the  record  to  2.14. 
At  Sacramento,  September  12th,  Sunol  trotted  at  2.131,  and  divided  the 
trotting-horse  world  into  rival  camj^s  on  the  question  of  three-year-old 
supremacy.  The  next  sensation  came  from  Terre  Haute,  where,  Octo- 
ber 11th,  Axtell  trotted  in  2.12,  lowering  the  record  for  stallions  as 
well  as  for  three-year-olds,  and  then  the  East  felt  that  the  lighter 
record  was  safely  held  on  this  side  of  the  Rockies.  But  not  so,  for  at 
the  Bay  District  track,  San  Francisco,  November  9th,  Sunol,  in  a 
performance  that  for  a  three-year-old  trotter  was  regarded  as  phenome- 
nal, trotted  in  2  lOJ. 

Sunol  was  then  purchased  by  Mr.  Robert  Bonner,  of  New  York,  for 
$41,000,  but  is  still  trained  by  her  old  trainer,  Marvin.  In  her  four- 
year-old  form  Sunol  was  campaigned  in  the  East,  but  was  never  quite 
at  the  fine  form  shown  as  a  three-year-old.  At  Chicago,  in  August, 
1890,  she  lowered  the  four-year-old  record  of  the  world  to  2.10^,  and 
at  Stockton,  California,  on  the  20th  of  October,  she  beat  the  best  time 
of  Maud  S.  by  half  a  second,  trotting  a  mile  in  the  marvelous  time  of 
2.08K 

Sunol  is  by  tlie  dead  Electioneer,  the  greatest  sire  of  trotters,  and 
her  dam  is  Waxanna,  by  General  Benton.  Electioneer  is  a  son  of 
Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  and  was  bred  by  Charles  Backman,the  famous 
Orange  County,  New  York,  breeder.  The  dam  of  Electioneer  was 
Green  Mountain  Maid,  the  most  noted  of  all  mothers  of  trotters,  and 
she  was  by  Henry  Clay  that  also  sired  the  dam  of  St.  Julien. 

This  2.08t  stood  as  the  champion  record  until  the  season  of  1892, 
during  which  no  less  than  four  horses  have  equalled  or  surpassed  it, 
m.,  Nancy  Hanks,  2.04;  Martha  Wilkes,  2.08;  Kremlin,  2.071,  and 
Stamboul,  2.08. 

But  before  proceeding  to  speak  of  the  champions  of  1892  it  must  be 
remarked  that  they  have  been  aided  in  their  flights  against  time  by  a 
maiTelous  invention,  the  "bicycle"  sulkey,  with  ball-bearing  axles 


—  446  — 

and  pneumatic  tires,  a  vehicle  that  is  from  two  to  three  seconds  faster 
than  the  old-fashioned  racing-sulkey. 

Like  Maud  S.,  so  recently  the  champion  of  trotters,  Nancy  Hanks, 
the  wearer  of  the  laurels,  is  an  unbeaten  mare,  and  the  parallel  runs 
further,  as  each  of  these  magnificent  trotters  lost  but  one  heat  in  her 
career.  The  gray  Wisconsin  gelding,  Charley  Ford,  once  won  a  heat 
from  Maud  S.,  and  Nancy  Hanks  in  her  first  race  lost  the  first  heat  to 
Bonnie  Wilmore,  since  which  no  horse  has  ever  led  her  down  the 
home-stretch. 

Nancy  Hanks  is  a  richly  colored,  neatly  made  bay  mare,  now  six 
years  old,  and  was  bred  by  Hart  Boswell,  of  Lexington,  Ky.  She  is 
by  that  truly  great  sire  Haj^py  Medium,  out  of  Nancy  Lee,  by  Dicta- 
tor,  her  dam  Sophy.  Hapj^y  Medium,  her  sire,  was  a  trotter  himself, 
taking  a  record  of  2.32i  in  a  race  in  1869,  and  was  by  Hambletonian, 
out  of  the  great  old  mare  Princess  (2.30),  after  Flora  Temple,  the 
best  mare  of  her  day  on  the  turf. 

She  is  about  fifteen  hands  high,  nicely  turned  and  balanced,  the 
shoulders  quite  oblique,  the  chest  deep,  the  back  and  coupling  smooth 
and  strong,  the  quarters  muscular  and  full,  and  the  legs  shapely,  fine, 
and  good.  Her  head  and  neck  are  chiseled  in  the  most  refined  lines, 
and  as  beautiful  as  Yo  Tambien's,  both  the  champion  mares  having  a 
slightly  dishing  nose,  wide  forehead,  and  kindly  eyes,  which  combined 
present  that  most  exquisite  type  of  the  equine  beauty  that  has  been 
the  theme  of  bard  and  the  ideal  of  artists  and  sculptor  for  ages.  As 
may  be  inferred  from  her  performances,  the  action  of  Nancy  Hanks  ^s 
of  the  best  order  and  in  itself  almost  perfect.  At  her  highest  flights 
of  speed,  so  smooth  and  machine-like  is  it  that  she  seems  to  trot  with- 
out effort,  going  with  that  easy,  deceptive  glide,  the  momentum  of  which 
only  the  watch  may  gauge.  Tliere  is  no  excess  of  knee-action,  but  a 
straight,  gliding  motion,  no  sprawling  behind,  but  the  true  line  action, 
wherein  every  movement  is  straight  forward,  and  there  is  no  waste  of 
energy  or  force.  With  this  she  has  the  most  admirable  disposition, 
easy,  even  temper,  and  an  inbred,  inherent,  and  deeply  rooted  instinct 
to  stick  to  the  trot  as  her  fastest  and  her  natural  gait.  All  these 
attributes  combine  to  make  her,  physically  and  mentally,  the  most  per- 
fect racing-machine  the  trotting  turf  has  seen. 

Nancy  Hanks  appeared  on  the  turf  as  a  three-year-old  at  Harrods- 
burg,  July  31st,  1889,  defeating  a  good  field.     She  trotted  the  third 


—  449  — 

heat  ill  2.25},  and  has  never  known  defeat.  She  started  and  won  in  six 
other  races  as  a  three-year-old,  retiring  with  a  record  of  2.24'..  Her 
four-year-old  career  involves  six  races,  six  victories,  and  a  race  record 
in  the  third  heat  of  2.13?.  In  1891  she  was  in  Budd  Doble's  hands, 
and  won  three  races,  that  with  Allerton  at  Independence  being  the 
fiistest  race  of  heats  on  record.  She  defeated  that  formidable  and 
almost  invincible  race-horse  in  2.12,  21H,  and  2.12,  and  later  reduced 
her  record  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  to  2.09. 

In  the  season  of  1892  she  made  many  successful  fights  against  time, 
her  greatest  triumph  being  at  Terre  Haute  in  August,  where  she  low- 
ered the  trotting  record  to  2.04.  She  is  owned  by  J.  Malcolm  Forbes, 
of  Boston,  who  also  owns  the  champion  three-year-old  stallion  Arion, 
2.10J. 

Martha  Wilkes,  2.08,  the  next  of  the  great  mares  of  1892,  is  also 
owned  by  a  Bostonian,  Mr.  E.  D.  Wiggin.  She  is  a  bay  mare  by 
Alcyone,  2.27,  out  of  Ella  by  Clark  Chief,  her  dam  Molly  Robinson, 
by  Pilot  Walker,  and  was  bred  by  Mrs.  Carrie  Marders,  of  Pine  Grove, 
Ky.  Martha  Wilkes  is  trained  and  driven  by  Budd  Doble.  She 
took  a  record  in  1891  of  2.181,  and  has  had  an  almost  uninterruptedly 
successful  career  in  1892. 

After  racing  with  the  greatest  brilliancy,  she  began  her  trials  against 
time  for  the  championship  record,  and  these  efforts  culminated  in  a 
record  of  2.08.  Martha  Wilkes  has  gone  a  half  mile  close  to  a  two- 
minute  gait,  and  if  she  reappears  on  the  turf  in  1893  it  would  not 
surprise  good  judges  to  see  her  trot  in  2.04  or  better. 

Among  the  most  remarkable  trotters,  not  of  this  year,  but  of  all 
time,  must  be  accounted  Belle  Vara,  whose  race- record  of  1892  equals 
the  record  of  Maud  S.,  which  was  the  champion  mark  for  six  years. 
With  the  exception  of  Martha  Wilkes'  heat  in  2.08,  Belle  Vara's  mark 
is  the  fastest  ever  made  in  a  race,  and  with  all  respect  to  Martha 
Wilkes  we  think  Belle  Vara's  mile  the  most  remarkable  because  it  was 
won  in  a  fighting  heat,  in  contention  with  a  fast  field,  whereas  Martha 
was  merely  chased  by  a  competitor  that  could  not  trouble  her,  coming 
the  half-way  post  in  1.02f. 

Belle  Vara  is  a  bay  mare,  foaled  in  1887,  by  Vatican,  2.29 t  (son  of 
Belmont,  out  of  Vara,  granddam  of  Kremlin,  2.071,  by  Hambletonian), 
dam  Nell,  by  Estell  Eric,  son  of  Ericsson,  the  sire  of  the  dam  of 
Moquette,  2.10.     She  was  bred  by  B.  H.  Neale,  of  Lexington,  and  was 


—  460  — 

an  early  wonder,  winning  the  yearling  stake  at  Lexington  meeting  of 
1888  in  2.38.  She  was  not  trotted  as  a  two-year-old,  meanwhile  be- 
coming the  property  of  S.  A.  Browne  &  Co.,  of  Kalamazoo,  l)ut  in  her 
three-year-old  form  took  a  record  of  2.22K  She  was  indulged  last  year 
again,  but  this  year  came  out  greater  than  ever.  She  is  yet  young,  and 
Mr.  Browne  believes  that  she  is  destined  to  lower  all  records. 

Turning  from  the  champion  mares  to  the  battle  for  the  stallion 
championship,  a  glance  backward  is  necessary. 

In  1889  and  1890  Senator  Stanford's  horse,  Palo  Alto,  son  of  Elec- 
tioneer, and  Mr.  Hobart's  Stamboul,  son  of  Sultan,  valiantly  but 
vainly  endeavored  to  wrest  the  stallion  crown  from  Axtell.  Palo  Alio 
trotted  in  1889  in  2.121,  and  in  1890  Stamboul  placed  his  mark  at  2.11, 
one  second  faster  than  Axtell,  but  he  had  been  forestalled  in  the  eon- 
test  for  championship  honors^  by  the  eastern  stallion,  Xelson,  who 
several  times  trotted  faster  than  2.12,  and  went  into  winrer  quarters 
with  a  record  of  2.10t,  thus  holding  the  world's  trotting  :<tallion  record. 

In  1891,  Nelson  lowered  the  stallion  record  to  2.10;  then  came  the 
triumph  of  that  veritable  Titan  of  the  trotting  turf,  Allerton,  wl  o 
trotted  the  Independence  track  in  2.091.  Later,  Palo  Alto  trotted  at 
Stockton  in  2.081,  and  so  the  stallion  record  stood  at  the  beginning  of 
1892.  The  two  rivals  for  the  honor  in  1892  were  Kremlin  and  Stam- 
boul, and  at  this  writing  the  records  stand,  Kremlin,  207f,  and 
Stamboul  2.08. 

Kremlin's  fame  and  history  are  world  wide.  He  is  a  five-year-old 
bay  stallion,  bred  at  Woodburn,  and  owned  by  William  Russell  Allen, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.  As  a  three-year-old  he  showed  high  racing  quality, 
and  was  a  sensation  from  his  first  appearance  this  season  in  his  five- 
year-old  f  )rm.  His  great  victory  in  the  Transylvania  stakes  at  Lex- 
ington has  been  told  and  retold,  and  those  who  knew  him  well  have 
lono-  claimed  his  ability  to  trot  a  mile  in  about  2.08.  Kremlin  is  a 
purely  and  intensely  trotting-hred  horse — a  g>od  individual  backed 
up  by  sterling  breeding.  He  is  by  Lord  Russell  f brother  to  INfaud  S.. 
2.031),  dam  Eventide,  by  Woodf)rd  Marabrino.  2  21},  she  out  of 
Vara,  by  Hambletonian,  next  dam  Venus,  by  American  Star.  Like 
Stamboul's,  Kremlin's  blood  is  of  the  rich,  pure,  and  intense  trotting 
kind.  His  record  of  2.071  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  November  12th, 
1892,  stamps  him  as  the  best  trotting  stallion  that  ha«  yet  appeared. 

A  kingly  horse  under  every  standard  by  which  a  horse  may  be 


—  451  — 

measured  is  Stamboul.  If  he  couldn't  trot  a  mile  in  five  minutes,  and 
if  his  blood  were  plebeian  and  common,  Stamboul  is  a  horse  that  would 
rivet  the  gaze  and  challenge  the  admiration.  He  is  by  Sultan,  2.24, 
out  of  Ruby's  dam,  the  great  mare  Fleetwing,  by  Hambletonian,  her 
dam,  Patcheu  Maid,  a  good  and  fast  mare  individually,  and  one  that 
produced  uniform  speed,  by  George  M.  Patchen,  2.23*.  Sterling 
breeding  that — and  trotting  blood  all.  Stamboul  was  bred  by  J.  L. 
Rose,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  and  sold  in  1889  to  the  late  W.  S.  Hobart 
for  $50,000. 

The  three-year-old  stallion  champion,  Arion,  2.IO2,  is  in  many 
respects  the  most  remarkable  trotter  in  the  world,  He  was  bred  by 
Senator  Leland  Stanford  at  Palo  Alto,  and  driven  by  Charles  Marvin, 
and  electrified  the  turf  world  by  trotting  a  mile  as  a  two-year-old  in 
1891  in  2.101,  which  is  perhaps  the  greatest  performance,  considering 
all  things,  to  the  credit  of  any  trotting  horse  that  ever  lived.  He  was 
shortly  afterward  purchased  by  J.  Malcolm  Forbes,  of  Boston,  for 
$125,000,  the  largest  price  ever  paid  for  a  horse  in  America.  This 
season  he  has  lowered  the  three  year-old  stallion  record  to  2.10J.  He 
is  by  Electioneer,  dam  by  Nutwood. 

Pacing. 

The  pacing  champion,  judged  by  the  time  measure,  is  Mascot,  2.04, 
though  racing  men  believe  Flying  Jib  his  superior.  The  other  most 
noted  pacers  of  1892  are  Direct,  Hal  Pointer,  and  Jay  Eye  See. 

Mascot,  2  04,  is  by  Deceive,  a  son  of  Hambletonian,  out  of  a  mare 
of  unknown  breeding.  For  the  past  two  seasons  he  has  been  a  ])romi- 
nent  figure  in  the  pacing  contests  of  the  AVestern  turf,  and,  starting  in 
the  slow  classes  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1891,  he  has  gradu- 
ally worn  his  record  down  until  to-day  he  stands  as  the  holder  of  the 
fastest  race-record  ever  made  by  a  harness  animal.  His  career  began 
at  Elmira,  N,  Y.,  June  11th,  1891,  in  a  2.40  class,  and  in  his  first 
start  he  made  a  record  of  2.26  r,  winning  his  race  in  the  second,  third, 
and  fourth  heats.  This  year,  commencing  the  campaign  at  the  Detroit 
meeting,  he  went  down  the  line  of  the  Western  Southern  circuit,  win- 
ning races  and  reducing  his  record  at  nearly  every  point.  His  record 
of  2.04  was  made  in  a  race  at  Terra  Haute,  in  which  he  Avon  the  first 
heat  in  that  time  and  Flying  Jib  the  record  in  2.05f . 

Flying  Jib,  the  great  California  pacer,  is  a  bay  gelding  by  Algona, 


—  452  — 

a  son  of  Almont,  whose  dam  was  Emma  Kiukead,  by  Conscript, 
brother  to  American  Clay ;  second  dam  Effie  Dean,  by  Mambnuy 
Chief.  Flying  Jib's  dam  is  the  Middletown  Mare,  by  Middletown, 
son  of  Hambletonian,  and  the  Middletown  Mare  was  out  of  Emblem, 
the  reputed  granddam  of  Arion,  2.10J,  and  full  sister  to  Voltaire, 
2.20}.  It  will  thus  be  noted  that  Flying  Jib  is  a  stoutly  trotting-bred 
pacer.  He  came  into  George  Starr's  hands  a  green  horse  in  the  spring 
of  1892,  and  that  great  reiusman  has  won  almost  everything  he  tried 
for  with  him.  He  has  proven  the  best  pacing  race-horse  of  1892,  and 
is  by  many  believed  capable  of  beating  the  record  of  Mascot. 

The  two  sensational  pacers  of  1891,  Hal  Pointer  and  Direct,  have 
not  been  at  their  best  in  1892,  though  each  has  lowered  his  record,  the 
former  to  2.04}  and  the  latter  to  2.05-2. 

Hal  Pointer  is  a  bay  gelding,  bred  in  Tennessee,  and  swept  every- 
thiuor  before  him  in  1891  until  he  met  Direct  in  the  autumn,  when  the 
little  black  stallion  from  California  easily  defeated  him.  Again,  in 
the  early  months  of  1892,  Hal  Pointer  was  invincible,  but  later,  Fly- 
ing Jib  was  clearly  his  master.  Direct  is  a  product  of  California, 
being  bred  there,  a  son  of  Director,  2.17,  w^hose  sire,  Dictator  (brother 
to  Dexter,  2.174),  is  also  the  sire  of  Nancy  Hanks'  dam.  Direct  is 
owned  by  Monro  Sali.sbur}^  of  California,  and  his  sire.  Director,  by 
A.  H.  Moore,  of  Philadelphia.  Hal  Pointer  is  owned  by  C.  J.  Ham- 
lin, of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

A  sketch  of  the  pacing  wonders  of  1892  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out reference  to  the  rejuvenated  j^henomenon.  Jay  Eye  See,  one  time 
king  of  the  trotting  turf.  Jay  Eye  See  was  a  sensation  of  the  trotting 
turf  ten  years  ago.  On  August  1st,  1884,  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  he 
lowered  the  world's  trotting  record  to  2.10.  The  next  day  Maud  S. 
trotted  at  Cleveland  in  2.09J,  so  that  Jay  Eye  See  was  king  for  a  day 
only.  After  a  long  retirement  the  little  black  horse  reappeared  on 
the  turf,  a  giant  refreshed,  in  1892,  but  had  taken  to  the  pacing  gait, 
at  which  way  of  going  Jackson  I.  Case  drove  him  to  a  record  of  2.06? 
at  Independence  in  August.  He  is  a  son  of  Dictator,  grandsire  of 
Direct. 

We  cannot  pass  by  the  New  York  Horse  Show  held  in  November  of 
1892,  in  New  York  city.  It  was  a  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  much 
mooted  and  often  unwisely  disputed  fact,  that  every  year  people  of 
highest  rank   in  wealth,  social  distinction,  political,  professional,  and 


—  453  — 

commercial  eminence  take  more  interest  in  tlie  noblest  of  animals, 
the  horse.  The  flower  of  tlie  country's  equine  population  was  on 
parade  at  the  Show,  and  the  flower  of  the  people  applauded.  One  of  the 
saddest  events  was  the  dethroning  of  good  old  Champion  Mambrino 
King,  Mr.  C.  J.  Hamlin's  entry  in  the  special  $1,000  jyvhe  class  for 
stallions,  by  that  wonder,  Quartermaster,  owned  by  Ruudel  and  White. 
King  Mambrino  moved  with  the  fire  of  youth,  but  twenty  years  have 
swayed  his  back,  and  to  some  extent  weakened  his  vigor. 

Quartermaster,  Mambrino's  successor,  is  a  horse  of  superior  conforma- 
tion and  marked  individuality.  While  not,  as  expressed  by  inches,  a 
large  horse,  he  is  one  of  great  strength  and  substance,  for  he  weighs, 
Avhen  in  fair  condition,  1,040  pounds.  He  is,  while  stoutly  boned  and 
muscled,  of  remarkabe  fineness  of  form  and  structure,  and  a  horse  of 
superlative  quality.  His  head  and  neck  are  fine,  and  of  resolute  and 
racy  expression  ;  his  shoulder  oblique  and  good,  the  barrel  of  grand 
depth  and  well  ribbed,  and  the  quarters  long  and  strongly  muscled. 
Tlie  joints  are  clean-cut  and  faultless,  the  legs  of  whalebone  quality, 
and  the  feet  excellent.  Quartermaster  has  the  traveling  gear  of  a 
campaigner — legs  and  feet  as  good  as  ever  a  horse  stood  upon ;  and  in 
every  inch  of  him,  from  nose  to  heels,  there  is  apparent  blood-like 
quality,  and  the  finish  that  nothing  but  princely  breeding  gives. 

That  he  inherits  the  capacities  as  well  as  the  conformation  of  a  trotter 
he  has  amply  demonstrated.  As  a  four-year-old,  on  a  half-mile  track, 
being  only  twenty  days  out  of  the  stud,  and  driven  by  his  groom, 
he  made  a  record  of  2.31  in  a  trial  heat.  The  following  year  he 
reduced  this  to  2. 24  J.  He  was  not  trained  in  1889.  In  1890  he  was 
again  placed  in  training,  and  reduced  his  record  to  2.21t,  but  this  is 
by  no  means  an  indication  of  his  speed,  as  he  showed  a  full  mile  in 
2.17,  half  in  1.04j,  and  quarter  in  0.31.  In  all  his  races  he  proved 
himself  to  be  a  game  and  level-headed  trotter. 

His  breeding  certainly  entitles  him  to  success  on  the  turf  and  in  the 
stud.  Alcyone,  though  he  died  so  young,  is  one  of  the  greatest  sjDeed- 
producing  sons  of  George  Wilkes.  He  was  the  most  perfectly  formed 
and  most  superbly  finished  of  all  the  Wilkes,  and  indeed,  very  few  horses 
of  his  time  compared  with  him  in  sterling  conformation  and  superla- 
tive quality.  He  was  a  son  of  the  greatest  trotting  sire  the  world  has 
seen — George  Wilkes  ;  and  his  dam.  Alma  Mater,  is  as  great  a  brood 
mare  as  ever  lived.     These  are  not  reckless  estimates ;  but  are  natural 


—  454- 

conclusions  that  the  records  show  of  the  sire  and  dam  of  Alcyone. 
On  the  paternal  side,  then,  it  will  be  seen  that  Quartermaster's  in- 
heritance is  unexcelled.  His  dam,  Qui  Vive,  is  herself  a  speed  pro 
ducer;  a  mare  of  great  speed  and  fine  parts,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Sentinel,  record  2.29f.  Sentinel  was  full  brother  to  Volunteer,  and 
was  evidently  just  as  great  a  horse.  He  died  when  ten  years  old  :  but 
he  leaves  a  goodly  2.30  list,  and  his  blood  is  breeding  on.  The  Senti- 
nels are  race-horses,  and  the  blood  carries  stamina  and  finish  with  it. 
Coming  to  the  second  dam  of  Quartermaster  we  have  Missie,  the  great 
daughter  of  Brignoli,  2.291.  Missie  has  proved  her  fitness  by  produc- 
ing Cascarilla,  2.25^,  and  King  Wilkes,  2.22},  sire  of  the  sensational 
Oliver  K.,  2.16t,  and  her  place  in  the  "  list  of  great  brood-mares  "  is 
secure.  Brignolia,  like  Mambrino  Patcheu,  American  Clay,  Harry 
Clay,  and  many  other  sires  of  merit,  is  known  chiefly  through  the 
stud-triumphs  of  his  daughters,  and  they  are  producing  well.  In 
Quartermaster  is  combined  the  blood  of  George  Wilkes  and  Alma 
Mater,  through  the  superb  Alcyone — and  of  Sentinel  and  Mambrino 
Chief,  through  Missie,  and  her  daughter,  Qui  Vive,  both  producers  of 
speed.  Quartermaster's  sire  and  both  grandsires  were  performers  and 
great  sires  of  performers ;  his  dam  and  both  grandams  are  great  pro- 
ducers. Thus,  in  Quartermaster,  there  is  all  producing  and  perform- 
ing blood  close  up,  and  he  himself  a  performer.  In  him  there  is  the 
breeding  and  individual  capabilities  of  a  horse  that  is  destined  for 
sure  success. 

As  a  sire.  Quartermaster  is  giving  ample  evidence  that  he  will 
prove  as  great  a  speed  getter  as  his  individual  excellence  and  rare 
breeding  would  warrant.  His  oldest  foals  are  now  three-year-olds,  and 
they  are  but  four  in  number.  One  of  these,  Blue  Bells,  won  the  New 
England  Breeders'  Stake  for  foals  of  1887,  obtaining  a  record  of  2.35 t, 
while  the  remaining  three  can  all  beat  three  minutes,  and  none  of  them 
are  out  of  standard  mares.  Quarterstretch,  a  two-year  old  by  him, 
has  shown  a  trial  in  2.38  J,  and  another  of  the  same  age  in  2.51.  His 
son  Stanley  made  a  half-mile  record  of  1.28*  at  fifteen  mouths  old, 
winning  the  New  England  Breeders'  Stake  for  foals  of  1889.  This 
clearly  proves  that  as  a  sire  Quartermaster  is  bound  to  take  rank 
among  the  leading  sires  when  time  and  opportunity  have  been  given 
to  develop  his  progeny. 

Space  will  only  permit  mention  in  this  sketch  of  the  actual  cham- 


—  455- 

l)lons,  by  the  track  tet>t,  and  the  one  litile  digression  in  favor  of 
"  Qiiartenna.ster,"  and  we  must  necessarily  pass  by  many  mighty 
j)erf(>rmer.s  who  are  nigh  at  the  threshold  of  the  championship  class, 
and  manv  of  which  will  win  radiant  honors  soon.  The  fortunes  of 
the  turf  are  proverbially  uncertain,  and  who  may  indicate  the  heads 
that  will  wear  the  trotting  and  pacing  crowns  a  year  from  now,  or 
what  may  be  the  measure  of  their  speed  ?  I  believe  that  in  fess  than 
five  years  both  trotters  and  pacers  will  have  covered  miles  in  two  min- 
utes, and  every  believer  in  progress  will  hope  to  see  the  dream  come 
true. 


RULES  GOVERNING  THE  AUCTION  SALE  OF 
HORSES  AND  OTHER  STOCK. 

While  many  horsemen  and  farmers  who  buy  and  sell  stock  at  auc- 
tion are  perfectly  conversant  with  the  rules  of  law  governing  this  class 
of  sales,  there  are  many  who  attend  such  sales,  and  possibly  some  who 
consign  their  stock  to  sale  in  this  manner  who  are  not  familiar  with 
the  legal  j^rinciples  involved.  To  these  a  brief  resume  of  the  law  of 
auctions  will  doubtless  be  of  interest.  We  therefore  present  it  here 
in  full : 

First  of  all,  the  rules  of  law  governing  the  sale  of  personal  prop- 
erty in  general  apply  as  well  to  the  sale  of  horses  as  to  other  sales  of 
chattels,  but  in  addition  to  them  the  peculiar  nature  of  an  auction  sale 
has  given  rise  to  some  special  rules.  In  ordinary  sales  there  are  two 
parties — the  buyer  and  seller.  The  auction  introduces  into  the  trans- 
action a  third  and  most  important  party — the  auctioneer.  It  is  a  rule 
of  law  that  no  one  can  be  an  agent  for  both  parties  to  a  sale.  The 
auctioneer  is  a  violation  of  this  rule,  for  in  law  he  is  the  agent  of  both 
the  others.  Like  any  other  offer,  the  offer  of  property  for  sale  at  auc- 
tion nuiy  be  either  conditional  or  unconditional.  The  owner  may 
stipulate  in  his  offer  that  no  bid  less  than  a  certain  amount  will  be  en- 
tertained, or  that  no  warranty  is  given,  or  he  may  make  such  other  terras 
and  conditions  as  he  may  see  fit.  If  conditioDs  are  attached  to  a  sale 
the  making  of  a  bid  is  a  legal  acceptance  of  these  conditions  by  the 
buyer.  A  frequent  source  of  annoyance  to  inexperienced  bidders  at 
auction  sales  is  the  fact  that  when  they  are  made  at  established  mar- 
kets they  are  made  according  to  the  rules  of  that  market  unless  other- 
wise specified.  If  the  rules  are  posted  or  notice  of  them  is  given, 
whether  he  actually  sees  them  or  receives  the  notice,  the  bidder  is 
bound  by  them.  In  fact,  there  is  some  ground  for  the  position  that  it 
is  his  duty  to  inquire  concerning  them,  failing  in  which,  he  is  bound 
by  them  on  the  ground  that  he  is  at  fault  in  not  informing  himself. 
It  is  well  settled  that  when  property  has  been  offered  for  sale  at  auc- 
tion it  may  be  withdrawn,  and  when  a  bid  has  been  made  it  may  be 

—  456  — 


—  457  — 

recalled,  in  either  case  before  the  hammer  falls.  The  auctioneer  is 
liable  for  any  damages  which  may  result  from  his  misdescription  of 
the  property,  or  for  fraud  or  deceit.  A  buyer  injured  by  such  con- 
duct must  recover  his  damage  from  the  seller,  and  the  seller  may 
recover  from  the  auctioneer  what  he  may  be  compelled  to  pay  for  his 
misconduct.  Two  matters  which  frequently  arise  in  this  connection 
may  be  mentioned  here — pedigree  and  ownership.  These  two  elements 
form  a  part  of  the  value  of  a  horse  in  these  days,  and  sometimes  have 
much  more  to  do  with  his  worth  than  do  his  lungs.  If  the  pedigree 
of  a  horse  be  misstated  or  falsely  represented  the  sale  may  be  violated. 
It  frequently  happens  that  the  fact  that  some  noted  horseman  owns  a 
horse  enhances  its  value.  If  a  horse  be  offered  for  sale  and  every  other 
material  fact  about  him  be  as  represented  except  that  his  ownership  be 
falsely  ascribed  to  some  such  person,  that  is  enough  to  warrant  the 
rescission  of  the  sale.  And  if  the  buyer  supposes  the  horse  to  belong  to 
such  an  owner,  when  in  fact  he  does  not,  and  the  auctioneer  knows 
that  he  is  under  this  impression,  although  neither  the  auctioneer  nor 
any  one  in  his  behalf  has  so  represented,  if  he  does  not  correct  the 
erroneous  impression  he  is  liable  as  for  misrepresentation.  The  same 
rule  with  regard  to  defects  applies  to  the  sale  by  auction  that  does  to 
ordinary  sales.  If  an  opportunity  is  given  for  inspection  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  buyer  to  make  an  inspection,  and  he  takes  the  risk  of  all  dis- 
cernible defects  and  blemishes.  The  seller  is,  in  the  absence  of  any 
warranty,  held  as  a  matter  of  law  to  warrant  against  all  latent  defects 
of  which  he  has  knowledge. 

The  subject  of  "  puffers "  or  "  by-bidders "  plays  an  important 
part  in  the  law  of  auctions.  While  this  is  an  evil  which  will  hardly 
be  encountered  at  reputable  sales,  there  are  enough  at  which  the  prac- 
tice obtains  in  one  form  or  another  to  warrant  a  statement  of  the  rule 
here.  The  law  holds,  as  a  fundamental  principle  of  all  commercial 
transactions,  firmly  to  the  necessity  of  absolute  good  faith  between  the 
parties,  and  the  practice  of  bidding  at  auction  sales  in  behalf  of  and  in 
the  interest  of  the  owner  of  the  property  offered  for  sale  without  notice 
that  the  bid  is  for  the  owner  is  a  breach  of  that  good  faith  which  the 
law  requires.  The  penalty  for  this  in  many  States  is  severe,  and  the 
civil  remedy  is  harsh.  If  the  buyer  wishes  he  may  rescind  the  con- 
tract and  refuse  to  take  the  property.  But  he  is  not  compelled  to  do 
this.     In  one  case  the  highest  bid  against  a  bona  fide  bidder  was  $145. 


—  458  — 

Against  a  "  puffer  "  the  l)uyer  ran  the  price  up  to  $160.  After  the 
sale  he  discovered  the  trick,  aud  recovered  back  from  the  seller  the 
difference  between  the  price  and  the  highest  bid  he  made  against  a 
bidder  in  good  faith.  The  offer  of  sale  was  to  the  highest  bidder,  and 
the  couit  htkl  that  the  highest  bid  as  a  matter  of  law  was  that  made 
against  the  next  best  bona  fide  bidder,  and  that  bids  against  "  puffers  " 
did  not  count.  In  another  case  the  buyer  made  a  bid,  which  was 
raised  by  a  gentleman  said  to  be  and  who  was,  in  fact,  the  owner. 
Upon  discovery  of  this  the  buyer  thereupon  tendered  him  the  amount 
of  his  bid,  and  in  an  action  at  law  subsequently  enforced  the  sale  and 
secured  the  horse.  In  the  nature  of  things  such  an  article  as  this  can 
but  meagerly  cover  such  a  subject.  These  points  have  been  brought 
out  only  with  the  idea  that  they  are  some  of  the  important  phases  of 
the  law  of  auctions  which  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  those  who  buy 
aud  those  who  sell  in  that  manner. 


A  SKETCH 


OF 


THE  LIFE  AND  WORK 


OF 


Prof.  OSCAR  R.  GLEASON, 


THE   KING   OF  HORSE  TRAINERS. 


BY 


W.   FLETCHER    JOHNSON. 


li/TAN'S  Jr lends  ami  helpers  In  the  aiilmal  kingdom  are  many 
and  varied.  They  afford  hhn  food,  elotJung,  and  proteefloji ; 
companionship  and  entertainment ;  and  perform  for  him  a  multitude 
of  laborious  tasks.  Among  them  there  Is  none  that,  on  the  whole,  Is 
of  so  much  service  to  him  as  the  horse.  Since  a  date  earlier  than 
the  earliest  recorded  history  It  has  been  his  pet,  Jus  comrade,  his 
se?'vant.  In  war  It  Is  filled  with  the  frenzy  of  the  fray,  and  fights 
luell-nlgh  as  fiercely  as  Its  rider.  In  peace  Its  strength  makes  l^  so 
efficient  a  toller  that  Its  ?iame  has  been  lent  to  the  tinlversal  unit  of 
Industrial  energy.  And  at  all  times  Its  vitelllgence,  docility,  and 
devotion  mark  It  as,  with  scarcely  a  single  rival,  the  nearest  and 
dearest  animal  friend  of  7nan.  To  Ill-use  such  a  creature  Is  nothing 
short  of  Inhumanity.  To  treat  It  luell,  to  study  Its  nature,  and  to 
cultivate  Its  powers  are  tasks  well  worthy  of  our  high  attention.  And 
In  the  follozvlng  pages  It  will  be  a  matter  of  no  mean  Interest  to  trace 
the  story  of  a  man  whose  life  has  been   chiefly  given   to   those   tasks. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 


OF 


PROF.    GLBASON. 


Oscar  R.  Gleasou  was  born  at  Petersbam,  Worcester  County,  Mas- 
sachusetts, on  July  14tb,  1856,  bis  family  name  being  a  not  uncom- 
mon one  in  tbe  New  England  States.  His  fatber,  Charles  F.  Gleason, 
was  a  stockraau,  who  especially  excelled  in  tbe  knowledge  and  man- 
agement of  borses,  and  tbis  trait  was  undoubtedly  inherited  by  bis  son, 
who,  at  a  very  early  age  evinced  a  similar  aptitude  in  a  most  striking 
degree.  The  elder  Gleason  was  a  man  of  magnificent  physical  pro- 
portions and  powers,  and  Avas  famed  for  his  ability  to  conquer  and  tame 
the  wildest  and  most  refractory  horses.  He  was  always  ready,  and 
even  eager  to  purchase  horses  regarded  as  vicious,  and  he  never  failed 
to  make  them  entirely  kind  and  gentle.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  engaged  in  tbe  manufacture  of  hats,  etc.,  from  palm  leaves.  He 
had  six  or  seven  establishments  in  different  towns,  and  gave  out  much 
"  piece  work  "  to  be  done  at  home,  in  scores  of  houses  in  Massachusetts 
and  even  other  adjoining  States.  He  had,  therefore,  to  keep  many 
horses  and  wagons  for  cartage,  and  was  himself  on  tbe  road  much  of 
tbe  time.  "  Whenever  he  heard,"  says  tbe  son,  "  of  a  runaway  or 
vicious  animal,  he  would  go  miles  to  buy  it,  claiming  that  only  the 
best  horses  were  vicious.  He  declared  the  best  way  to  cure  a  run- 
away horse  was  to  give  him  the  end  of  the  road.  I  never  knew  him 
to  have  a  sick  or  lame  horse  in  my  life  ;  although  he  gave  bis  animals 
hard  drives,  be  always  took  tbe  best  of  care  of  them.  He  never  drove 
less  than  10  miles  an  hour  on  tbe  road." 

Oscar  R.  Gleason's  mother  was  Ellen  F.  Drury,  of  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  one  of  those  earnest,  determined  and  devoted  mothers  whose 
character  and  early  teachings  have  done  so  much  for  the  development 
of  noble  and  successful  manhood  among  the  people  of  New  England. 

Tbe  family  removed  in  1868  to  Dakota,  Humboldt  County,  Iowa, 

—  464  — 


—  465  — 

on  the  Des  Moines  River.  This  was  a  great  change  from  the  Massa- 
chusetts towns,  and  the  elder  Gleason's  mode  of  life  was  correspond- 
ingly modified.  The  palm-leaf  industry  was  perforce  abandoned,  and 
he  devoted  his  attention  wholly  to  the  live  stock  business,  handling 
every  year  many  thousand  head  of  horses  and  cattle.  To  Oscar  he 
gave  a  fine  little  cow  pony,  and  the  boy  took  the  keenest  pleasure  in 
riding  it  after  the  droves  of  cattle.  Once,  he  relates,  he  was  helping 
his  father  drive  a  large  herd  of  wild  steers,  and  they  were  crossing  a 
bridge  over  the  Des  Moines  River.  One  of  the  steers  bolted  and 
})lunged  into  the  stream.  After  him  went  Oscar  and  his  pony.  "  Look 
out  for  quicksands,"  shouted  his  father.  Oscar  was  then  in  deep  water, 
the  pony  swimming  close  up  to  the  steer  and  biting  at  him  to  hurry 
him  through,  and  they  soon  safely  emerged  on  the  other  side.  This 
occurred  at  the  time  of  the  great  flood  in  1869,  Oscar  then  being  13 
years  of  age.  On  arriving  safely  in  the  village  of  Springvale,  they 
had  discovered  that  the  dam  just  above  the  town  had  given  away,  and 
there  was  great  danger  of  all  the  citizens  being  drov/ued.  At  once 
the  elder  Gleason  gave  the  order  for  every  one  to  turn  out  with  teams 
and  stop  the  water  by  filling  up  the  large  breach  with  boulders  and 
rock.  His  example  infused  new  life  into  the  dazed  citizens,  who  took 
hold  with  a  will,  so  that  there  were  at  work  at  this  critical  time  not  less 
than  500  men  with  as  many  animals ;  and  they  succeeded,  by  almost 
superhuman  efforts,  in  averting  the  threatened  destruction. 

They  remained  in  the  West  until  1871.  Then  Mrs.  Gleason  died, 
and  her  husband  and  two  sons  returned  East  and  moved  to  Vermont. 
Here  Oscar  had  a  rare  opportunity  it)  develop  his  passion  for  horses, 
which  became  more  and  more  marked  as  he  grew  older.  At  that  time 
traveling  through  the  State  of  Vermont  was  the  well-known  horse 
trainer,  the  late  Professor  C.  H.  Williams,  and  Oscar  Gleason  became 
a  member  of  his  class.  Foreseeing  what  great  results  must  ensue 
from  an  intelligent  presentation  of  the  art  of  educating  the  horse,  he 
<letermined  to  make  it  a  life  study  and  had  the  pleasure  of  putting 
into  effect  his  long-cheriished  idea,  which  was  both  to  train  a  horse  so 
as  to  make  him  gentle  for  family  use  and  also  to  educate  the  people  in 
the  different  methods  used  in  training  and  handling  the  noble  brute. 

"  While  witnessing  one  of  Professor  Williams'  exhibitions  in  West- 
ern Vermont  in  subduing  and  bringing  under  perfect  control  a  wild 
and  vicious  colt,  I  was  struck,"  he  says,  "  with  wonder  and  amazement 


—  466  — 

to  see  what  power  man  did  possess  over  the  dumb  brute.  I  thereupon 
said  to  Professor  Williams  that  every  man  who  had  to  do  with  horses 
should  be  taught  the  same  art,  and  he  said,  '  My  boy,  I  am  glad  to 
have  in  you  such  an  interested  spectator,  and  if  everybody  could  so 
readily  see  the  utility  of  the  methods  I  use,  certainly  my  labor  would 
not  be  in  vain.'  As  it  was  an  established  rule  of  Professor  Williams 
that  when  a  man  became  a  member  of  his  class  he  was  constituted  a 
life  member,  I  attended  his  exhibitions  whenever  and  wherever  I  could 
hear  of  him,  and  I  went  to  Jamaica,  West  Townsend,  and  Wadsboro' 
City,  thereby  getting  the  benefit  of  four  exhibitions.  At  the  last- 
named  place  I  remarked  to  Professor  Williams  that  I  was  going  into 
the  business.  He  laughed  at  me,  and  said,  *  Young  man,  you  will 
have  a  great  deal  to  contend  with  in  order  to  be  successful.'  " 

Thus  the  teacher  and  pupil  parted,  the  latter  retaining  a  copy  of 
Professor  Williams'  book  on  horses,  which  he  studied  until  he  knew  it 
almost  by  heart.  Oscar  actually  began  at  this  time  to  give  exhibitions 
of  horse-training,  and  was  thus  engaged  when  he  and  his  teacher  next 
met.  It  was  on  the  road,  between  Jacksonville  and  Reedsboro',  Ver- 
mont. They  greeted  each  other  cordially,  and  Oscar  told  the  Professor 
that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Reedsboro'  to  give  an  exhibition.  The  other 
was  displeased  at  this,  seeing  in  his  former  pupil  a  competitor,  and  told 
him  that  he  must  not  make  use  of  any  of  the  devices  he  had  learned 
of  him  or  he  would  prosecute  him.  Oscar  replied  that  he  was  already 
billed  to  appear  at  Reedsboro'  and  intended  to  keep  the  engagement, 
at  no  matter  what  cost.  So  they  parted  again,  not  on  their  former 
pleasant  terms.  When  Oscar  reached  Reedsboro'  he  found  that  Wil- 
liams had  been  there  just  before  him  and  had  given  an  exhibition. 
Consequently  his  own  audience  was  small,  consisting  of  nine  persons, 
at  50  cents  each.  At  the  close  of  the  performance,  with  the  $4.50  in 
his  pocket,  he  went  to  his  father's  home,  at  West  Townsend,  and  made 
preparations  for  another  town.  His  father  had  a  **  buckskin  "  mare 
that  was  a  bad  balker  and  kicker.  Oscar  persuaded  him  to  let  him 
take  her  and  break  her.  In  this  the  young  man  succeeded,  making 
her  so  docile  that  he  could  drive  her  anywhere  witjiout  bit  or  reins. 

His  second  exhibition  was  given  at  Wadsworth,  Vermont,  in  August, 
187G,  and  the  receipts  were  $22.  This  encouraged  him.  But  his 
father  looked  with  doubt  and  disfavor  upon  the  whole  enterprise,  nor 
was  his  mind  changed  when,  soon  after,  Oscar  returned  from  his  third 


—  467  — 

tour  with  SI 5  clear  profits,  but  he  earnestly  advised  his  son  to  give  it 
up  and  go  to  farming.  "  At  this  time,"  says  our  subject,  "I  was  only 
20  years  old,  and  knowing  full  well  I  was  not  legally  my  own  master, 
I  asked  my  father  what  he  would  take  for  the  year  that  remained  be- 
tween bondage  and  freedom,  and  he  replied  $150.  I  asked  him  if  he 
would  take  my  note,  and  he  replied  that  he  would.  Thus  I  went 
my  way,  after  bidding  the  family  farewell,  and  saying  to  them  all 
that  I  should  never  return  until  I  had  made  a  worthy  name  for  ray- 
self.  My  only  companion  being  the  buckskin  mare,  I  gave  free  exhi- 
bitions with  her  by  driving  her  without  lines.  Large  numbers  would 
turn  out  to  see  my  free  exhibitions  of  horsemanship.  I  then  delivered 
a  free  lecture  on  what  I  could  do  and  could  teach  the  horse-owners 
and  formed  a  class,  making  the  terms  $3  apiece.  I  traveled  in  this 
manner,  stopping  at  many  small  towns  in  Massachusetts,  arriving  at 
Hazzardviile,  Conn.,  about  December  1st,  1876.  At  this  place  I 
wrote  my  father  of  my  success  and  invited  him  to  come  on  and  see 
our  exhibition,  which  he  accepted,  arriving  here  on  Christmas  Day. 

"  As  I  had  spent  some  time  in  Hazzardviile  I  had  ample  time  and 
opportunity  to  go  about  and  make  myself  acquainted  with  the  horse- 
owners  and  stockmen  and  succeeded  very  well  in  getting  them  inter- 
ested in  my  lectures,  and  as  a  consequence  I  had  a  large  class  of 
scholars.  So  the  night  of  the  exhibition  I  had  a  very  large  audience 
for  that  time,  my  receipts  being  $212,  which  was  a  great  inducement 
for  my  father  to  join  me  in  my  scheme,  and  on  my  suggestion  he 
readily  accepted  the  proposition.  It  is  due  myself  to  here  make  mention 
that  on  my  father's  arrival  I  called  on  him  to  produce  the  note  I  gave 
him  purchasing  my  manhood,  which  to  his  surprise  I  promptly  cashed. 
We  then  formed  a  company  under  the  style  of  Professor  O.  R.  Gleason 
&  Co.,  my  father  being  the  Company." 

They  issued  a  few  days  later  a  41-page  pamphlet,  entitled  A  New  Trea- 
tise on  the  Training  of  the  Horse,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  winter  in 
Connecticut,  giving  exhibitions  in  numerous  towns  and  cities.  In  the 
spring  and  summer  they  went  through  parts  of  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  following  December 
reached  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  There,  in  Janiiary,  1878,  they  gave 
an  exhibition  of  horsemanship  in  the  old  Race  Street  Bazaar,  at  which 
a  large  gathering  of  people  was  present,  including  many  prominent 
citizens.     Messrs.  Fiss  &  Durr,  proprietors  of  a  large  stable  and  horse 


—  468  — 

market,  had  at  that  time  a  rather  noted  horse  named  "  Resolute.'* 
This  was  a  most  vicious  brute,  a  confirmed  kicker  and  biter.  It  was 
brought  into  the  ring  and  young  Gleason  quickly  subdued  it  to  entire 
docility.  Thence  they  went  to  Wilmington,  Del.,  where  Oscar  suc- 
cessfully handled  the  noted  horse,  "  Running  Gale."  At  Dover,  Del., 
the  father  and  son  i:)arted  company,  the  former  being  in  broken  health. 
The  elder  Gleason  returned  to  Vermont,  taking  with  him  the  famous 
"  buckskin  "  mare,  and  a  short  time  afterward  he  died. 

Oscar  Gleason  kept  on  in  the  chosen  enterprise  of  his  life,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1879,  at  the  village  of  Dunmore,  among  the  mountains  of 
Pennsylvania,  met  with  an  experience  that  was  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant in  his  whole  life.  He  there  made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Kath- 
leen E.  Jordan,  a  native  of  that  place.  Before  long  he  persuaded  her 
to  become  his  wife,  and  she  has  ever  since  been  his  constant  and  sympa- 
thetic companion,  never  missing  one  of  his  performances,  and  taking 
the  deepest  possible  interest  in  his  work.  ''  It  is  to  her  quick  and  dis- 
cerning sight,"  he  says,  "that  I  owe  the  success  of  my  career." 

After  his  marriage.  Professor  Gleason  went  to  York,  in  Southern 
Pennsylvania,  and  made  that  place  his  lieadquarters  for  four  months, 
forming  a  class  of  over  1,600  members  at  $2  per  head.  At  the 
termination  of  the  school  he  gave  a  street  parade,  wherein  were 
over  600  mounted  men,  headed  by  himself  as  Marshal,  driving  a  four- 
in-hand  team  of  black  horses.  Directly  after  this  parade  he  gave  an 
exhibition,  free  to  everybody,  handling  a  very  vicious  horse,  and  im- 
mediately after  the  exhibition  he  gave  a  dinner  to  all  the  members  of 
his  class.  Soon  after  he  left  for  Hagerstown,  Md.  At  this  place  he 
remained  fir  two  months.  Amonsj  the  manv  hundred  horses  he 
handled  while  there  was  the  celebrated  "  Kentucky  Prince,"  owned  by 
John  Cost,  and  he  thoroughly  broke  him  so  that  he  could  make  him 
do  almost  everything  but  talk.  He  had  him  so  thoroughly  under  con- 
trol that  Mr.  Cost  was  very  anxious  for  him  to  drive  him  around  to 
the  surrounding  villages,  where  he  was  giving  lessons  to  classes  already 
formed.  This  he  very  readily  did,  as  everybody  at  Hagerstown  knew 
this  horse,  and  was  afraid  of  him  ;  but  he  had  him  under  such  good 
subjection  that  his  wife  used  to  drive  him,  '*  Prince"  was  very  nervous 
and  high-strung,  *'but  I  had  him  so  th(jroughly  in  hand,"  says  Profes- 
sor Gleason,  "that  he  would  obey  the  word  of  command  with  the 
rapidity  of  thought,     ^yhile  driving  from  Hancock  to  Hagerstown, 


—  469  — 

about  midnight,  I  was  accosted  in  the  road  by  two  highwaymen,  wha 
stepped  in  front  of  the  horse,  and  demanded  a  halt.  I  gave  '  Prince' 
the  word,  and  he  jumped,  striking  tlie  two  men  with  the  wheels  of  the 
wagon,  knocking  them  aside,  and  in  less  time  than  I  am  writing  his 
name  he  had  us  all  out  of  harm's  way.  After  remaining  in  the  above 
place  for  two  months,  we  left  for  Virginia,  arriving  at  Winchester  in 
the  fall  of  1880.  This  city  I  made  my  headquarters  for  one  month, 
taking  in  the  small  towns  in  a  radius  of,  say,  60  miles.  After  leaving 
Winchester  we  went  to  Harrisonburg,  Va.,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
where  we  did  a  very  successful  business,  at  the  termination  of  which  I 
gave  a  free  excursion  over  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  bringing 
into  Harrisonburg  over  7,000  farmers.  I  handled  upon  this  occasion 
10  very  bad  horses,  and  during  my  stay  here  I  made  many  warm 
friends." 

Staunton,  Charlottesville,  Lynchburg,  and  Danville,  Virginia,  were 
next  visited,  and  then  in  the  winter  of  1880-81  they  reached  Greens- 
boro', N.  C.  Here  business  was  bad,  and  Mrs.  Gleason  was  ill  for 
many  weeks.  Attempts  to  form  classes  in  neighborino^  towns  were 
fruitless,  and  as  soon  as  Mrs.  Gleason  was  able  to  travel  they  borrowed 
money  of  their  landlord  and  went  to  Atlanta,  Ga.  There  in  two 
weeks  enough  money  was  made  to  repay  the  loan,  and  they  paid  profit- 
able  visits  to  Augusta,  Macon,  and  other  places.  At  Savannah  they 
made  good  friends  and  much  money,  and  then,  for  the  sake  of  Mrs. 
Gleason's  health,  set  out  for  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  th-^y  spent 
the  winter  of  1881-82. 

Next  spring  they  started  for  the  North  again.  At  Nashville,  Ken- 
tucky, Professor  Gleason  was  taken  ill  for  some  weeks.  On  his  re- 
covery they  went  to  Lexington,  in  the  heart  of  the  famous  "  blue 
grass  "  region,  where  the  finest  horses  in  the  world  abound.  He  gave 
exhibitions  there  and  formed  a  large  class.  Among  the  horses  broken 
by  him  at  Lexington  w^as  a  valuable  "Almont  filly,"  the  property  of 
General  Withers. 

"  This  was,"  says  Professor  Gleason,  "  one  of  the  most  vicious  colts 
that  I  ever  handled.  I  had  heard  of  her  from  some  of  the  horsemen 
of  Lexington  as  being  such  a  kicker  that  all  the  horse-breakers  who 
had  previously  handled  her  had  given  her  up  as  no  good.  So  in  meet- 
ing General  Withers  one  day,  I  said,  '  General,  let  me  handle  your 
mare.'     He  replied,  '  You  cannot  drive  her.'     I  said,  '  I  can  hitch  and 


—  470  — 

drive  her  in  two  hours.'  He  said,  '  You  can  take  her,  but  first  promise 
me  that  you  will  not  injure  her,'  which  I  did   most  emphatically.     I 
then  advertised  to  handle  this  noted  mare  in  the  streets  of  Lexington, 
but  found  the  crowd  so  dense  and  congregating  so  fast  that  the  police 
interfered.     I  was  then  obliged  to  rei)air  to  the  circus  ground,  where  I 
subdued  and  drove  her  within  60  minutes  after  taking  her  in  hand.    I 
then  used  this  mare  in  making  my  visits  to  the  surrounding  small  towns 
until  I  had  her  thoroughly  broken.     I  spent  the  spring  and  part  of 
the  summer  of  1882  in  Kentucky.     One  day  on  my  arrival  from  Paris, 
Ky.,  where  I  had  been  on  business,  making  the  journey  in  the  open 
air,  on  going  into  the  hotel  I  noticed   that  every  one  eyed  me  with  a 
suspicious  stare,  and  also  seemed  to  avoid  me.     But   I   went  into  the 
dining-room  and  there  found  m}'*wife  seated  at  the  table.     Soon  after 
I  took  my  seat  the  people  all  arose  and  left  with  fear  and  consterna- 
tion.    While  we  were  both  wondering  what  the  excitement  was,  a  phy- 
sician came  in  with  the  landlord  to  give  me  a  special  examination  and 
diagnose  my  case.     The  doctor,  after  a  good  look  at  me,  said,  with  a 
smile  upon  his  countenance,  *  Yes,  he  has  got  it  badly,  but  instead  of 
its  being  small-pox,  it  is  the  measles.'     I  made  up  mj  mind  I  did  not 
feel  very  well,  so  went  to  my  bed,  where  I  was  confined  for  two  weeks. 
"As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  resume  my  professional  career  I  went  from 
Lexington  to  Ripley,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  arriving  there  in  August, 
1882,  and  stopping  at  the  Latona  Hotel,  having  at  that  time  for  niine 
host  one  E.  V.  Chapin,  formerly  a  New  York  man.     While  sojourning 
at  Ripley,  I  took  in  all  the  river  towns  in  Ohio,  from  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  to 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  forming  classes,  still   keeping  my  headquarters  at 
Ripley,  and  with  good  results.      Presently  I  thought  I  would   change 
and  embark  in  a  business  where  I   could   have  an  easier  time,  make 
money  faster,  and  have  a  good  time  generally.     And  while  I  Avas  in 
this    condition  of  mind,  I  met  the   manager  of  a  theatrical   troupe 
which  was  stranded,  and  was  over-persuaded   by  him  to  take  his  com- 
pany and  place  them  on  their  feet  again.     So  into  it  I  went,  heart, 
soul,  and  body  (just  the  same  as   if  I   was  handling  a  noted  kicking 
horse),  and  the  outcome  of  it  was  '  Gleason's  Nobody's  Child  Com- 
pany,' and  during  the  iiist  real  lucid  spell  I  had   after  the  fever  had 
abated  I  found  myself  peeping  through  the  window  of   a  box-office 
looking  for  somebody  to  buy  a  ticket  to  see  the  play.     I  soon  realized 
that  I  was  going  to  need  some  more  ready  money,  so  I  persuaded  a 


—  471  - 

lightning-rod  man,  one  Jas.  E.  Culon,  to  take  a  half-interest  with  me 
after  convincing  him  that  there  were  milHons  in  it.  Why,  I  could  see 
before  me  such  grand  realizations  of  wealth  that  I  began  to  be  worried 
as  to  what  safe  investments  I  could  make.  From  Ripley  we  went  to 
Georgetown,  Ohio  ;  from  Georgetown  I  went  back  to  Ripley,  taking 
the  whole  troupe  with  me,  and  sto])ped  again  at  the  Latona  House,  in 
order  to  catch  my  breath  and  take  in  wind  enough  so  as  to  make  an- 
other grand  flight.  Portsmouth  was  the  next  point,  thence  to  Chilli- 
cothe,  to  Ironton,  through  West  Virginia,  to  Huntington,  and  thence 
to  Staunton,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  meeting  with  ill  success  in  all 
of  the  aforesaid  places.  I  thought  that  in  the  best  towns  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley  the  many  friends  1  had  made  in  my  old  profession  of 
horse -training  would  flock  to  see  me  in  my  new  roh  as  propiietor  and 
manager  of  '  Gleason's  Nobody's  Child  Company.'  But  here  I  found 
myself  again  mistaken,  and  on  reaching  Winchester  the  actors  com- 
menced clamoring  for  their  salaries,  which,  of  course,  it  was  impossible 
for  me  to  pay  at  that  time,  and  they  would  not  go  on  the  stage  and  give 
another  exhibition  without  their  money. 

"  Talk  about  your  kicking  horses  being  bad  to  subdue  and  handle. 
Here  I  encountered  more  than  my  match.  I  could  not  handle  them, 
they  kicked  too  hard,  and  all  kicked  at  one  time.  There  was  only 
one  way  to  subdue  them,  a  device  not  my  original  invention,  conse- 
quently I  had  no  patent  on  it  and  could  not  control  it — '  money.'  So 
I  let  the  concern  go  to  pieces  and  we  dissolved  at  this  place,  leaving 
me  and  my  lightning-rod  partner  without  a  dollar  in  the  world. 

I  went  off  by  myself  to  meditate,  and,  being  among  strangers,  I 
thouo-ht  the  best  thino-  for  me  to  do  was  to  2:0  where  some  knew^  me. 
It  occurred  to  me  that  the  landlord  at  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  knew  me 
well  as  a  horse-trainer.  I  thought  I  would  go  and  see  him  and  borrow 
some  money  of  him  to  get  another  start.  So  I  hired  a  carriage  to  take 
us  over  to  Martinsburg,  it  being  about  15  miles  away,  and  on  arriving 
there  I  went  in  and  he  greeted  me  as  of  old,  supposing  he  was  going 
to  have  a  moneyed  customer.  But  after  our  friendly  meeting  I  took 
him  to  one  side  and  told  him  I  wanted  him  to  go  to  the  door  and  ])ay 
the  cabman  for  bringing  us  there,  as  I  had  no  money.  He  laughed, 
but  readily  consented,  and  also  loaned  me  some  money  to  go  to  Cum- 
berland and  there  give  an  exhibition  of  horsemanship.  On  arriving 
there,  my  money  being  all  exhausted  once  more  for  transportation  and 


—  472  — 

printer's  bills  for  dodgers  to  throw  around  the  town,  gave  a  free  exhi- 
bition in  front  of  the  post-office  and  formed  a  class,  bringing  in  a  total 
cash  of  $42." 

From  Cumberland  ihey  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  they  formed 
a  large  class  and  did  an  excellent  business,  and  thence  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  In  this  city  they  had  a  large  class  of  wealthy  and  substantial 
men.  From  there  they  went  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  but  owing  to  the  cold 
Aveather  did  not  do  much  business.  They  then  left  for  Toledo,  Ohio, 
for  three  weeks.  From  Toledo  they  went  through  Ohio,  stoppin^r  at 
many  small  towns,  spending  the  wiuter  of  1882-83  in  this  State.  Jn 
the  spring  they  went  to  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  Here  they  formed  a  good 
class,  and  after  one  week  left  for  Jamestown.  This  ])lace  Professor 
Gleason  made  his  headquarters  for  nearly  two  months,  lecturing  in  all 
the  small  towns  for  a  radius  of  50  miles,  doing  a  nice  business.  From 
there  he  made  a  tour  through  the  oil  regions,  but  made  little  money. 

Arriving  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1883,  he  commenced  an  en- 
gagement with  W.  C.  Coup,  the  owner  of  the  "  one  hundred  thousand 
dollar  bronchos."  Here  he  filled  an  enoaiiement  of  four  weeks,  work- 
ing  for  Mr.  Coup  for  a  large  salary. 

After  filling  this  engagement  in  Brooklyn,  he  left  for  Norfolk,  Va. 
There  he  did  an  immense  business  for  three  weeks.  He  then  left  for 
Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  the  genial  people  and  the  balmy  and 
salubrious  atmosphere  made  him  loth  to  leave  this  part  of  the  country. 
But  after  a  time  he  went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  did  an  immense  busi- 
ness, remaining  in  this  city  the  winter  of  1883-84,  giving  exhibitions 
every  evening,  Sundays  excepted,  for  10  weeks.  He  here  handled  the 
celebrated  "  Tinpan  horse,"  which  got  its  name  from  having  run  away 
uith  a  load  of  tinware,  and  thereby  ever  after  being  perfectly  frantic 
and  entirely  unmanageable  at  every  bit  of  tinware  it  chanced  to  come 
in  contact  with.  He  handled  it  and  completely  subdued  it  in  two 
lessons.  In  the  spring  he  left  for  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland, 
^vhere  he  received  a  welcome  from  the  farmers  and  formed  large  classes 
and  handled  a  number  of  very  vicious  horses. 

From  here  he  went  back  to  Wilmington  the  second  time,  and  gave  a 
free  exhibition  nightly  for  two  weeks.  Then  he  proceeded  to  New 
York  State,  stopping  in  Pennsylvania  on  the  way  at  Chester,  AVest 
Chester,  Media,  Norristown,  Bethlehem,  Allentown,  Easton,  and 
Wilkesbarre.     On   arriving  at  Elmira,   N.  Y.,  he  remained  for  two 


-473  — 

weeks,  making  that  place  his  heachjuarters,  and  taking  in  the  small 
towns  for  a  radius  ol'  25  miles,  doing  a  fair  business  only.  He  then 
left  for  Buffalo,  stopping  at  all  the  small  towns  en  route,  arriving  at 
the  last-named  place  November  loth,  1884. 

While  in  this  city  he  cast  up  his  accounts  and  decided  thenceforth 
to  change  his  style  of  business,  and  instead  of  simply  working  the  peo- 
ple for  their  patronage  as  scholars  at  $3  per  head,  to  adopt  the  sys- 
tem of  giving  exhibitions  inside  some  convenient  inclosure  and  charg- 
ing an  admission  fee.  For  this  idea  he  has  never  been  sorry,  as  it  has 
been  much  more  remunerative.  The  first  exhibition  he  irave  after 
adopting  this  resolution  was  in  the  "  Republican  Wigwam"  on  Niagara 
Street,  Buffalo,  on  November  22d,  1884.  He  charged  only  10  cents 
for  admission,  and  as  a  consequence  filled  the  house  to  overflowing, 
having  to  turn  away  people  every  night.  With  all  this  outpouring 
humanity  he  could  not  meet  his  expenses,  as  the  wigwam  could  not 
hold  enough  people  to  do  so,  so  he  had  to  raise  his  prices.  For  the 
nine  weeks  of  his  engagement  he  did  a  profitable  business,  and  was 
well  pleased  with  the  "  new  idea." 

"  During  my  engagement  here,"  he  says,  ''  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Mr.  C.  J.  Hamlin,  of  East  Aurora,  N.  Y.,  who  made  me  a 
proposition  to  take  charge  of  his  stock  farm,  and  superintend  the  sale 
of  his  celebrated  trotting  stock.  This  I  did  not  take  kindly  to,  as  it 
was  not  my  vocation  to  be  a  stock  raiser.  But  Mr.  Hamlin,  not  to  be 
thwarted,  conceived  the  idea  of  getting  on  the  right  side  of  my  wife, 
and  thus  finally  succeeded  in  gaining  the  day  and  bringing  me  over  to 
his  terms.  I  took  the  position,  thinking  and  believing  that  Mrs.  Glea- 
son  did  this  more  to  have  an  abiding  place,  and  probably  that  it  would 
result  in  our  settling  down  somewhere  permanently  and  making  us  a 
home.  I  was  to  commence  my  engagement  on  the  first  day  of  Apiil, 
1885.  I  now  left  for  Chicago,  111.  Here  I  exhibited  to  crow«l('d 
houses  for  10  weeks.  As  I  was  about  to  close  my  engagement  in  this 
city  I  heard  of  a  very  vicious  horse  which  belonged  to  the  proprietor 
of  the  Gait  House.  The  reader  can  paint  in  his  imagination  the  pic- 
ture of  a  wild  and  vicious  horse,  with  all  the  bad  habits  combined  in 
him,  breaking  a  strap  used  in  controlling  him,  dragging  about  three 
men  with  him,  pell  mell,  hit  or  miss,  through  a  vast  multitude  of 
frightened  human  beings,  with  those  having  him  in  charge  powerless  to 
control  him.     At  last  I  caught  him,  bringing  him  to  a  standstill,  and 


—  474  — 

after  renewing  my  attach nients,  placed  him  again  in  the  ring,    and 
within  30  minutes  had  him  completely  subdued." 

Concerning  Professor  Gleason's  work  in  Chicago,  The  Chicago  Horse- 
man of  February  14th,  1885,  said : 

"On  Saturday  night  last,  at  Greuier's  Garden,  Professor  Gleason 
brought  a  10  weeks'  engagement  to  a  pleasant  close.  During  that 
period,  nightly,  he  has  lectured  on  the  horse,  educated  him,  trained 
him,  cured  him  of  evil  tricks,  and  demonstrated  that  the  horse  is  an 
intelligent  animal,  to  be  educated,  not  abused — to  be  trained,  not 
kicked.  He  has  achieved  a  success  that  no  other  man  can  claim,  show- 
ing in  Chicago  for  10  weeks,  giving  72  exhibitions  to  over  150,000 
persons,  handling  216  head  of  vicious  horses." 

The  Chicago  Tribune,  of  Wednesday,  March  4th,  1885,  said: 
"  Over  1,200  people  assembled  in  Battery  D  last  night,  to  witness  an 
exhibition  of  horsemanship,  as  shown  by  Professor  O.  R.  Gleason.  The 
lioor  of  the  large  hall  had  been  covered  with  saw-dust,  and  at  the  east 
end  stood  a  score  or  more  of  animals,  each  of  which,  it  is  alleged,  was 
possessed  of  some  vicious  trait  or  bad  habit.  The  horses  were  the 
property  of  different  residents  of  Chicago,  and  none  of  them,  it  was 
said,  had  ever  been  seen  by  the  trainer  before.  A  bay  mare  was  led  to 
the  centre  of  the  floor,  and  her  owner  informed  the  Professor  that  she 
was  in  the  habit  of  shying  violently  at  newspapers  and  other  light 
objects  which  the  wind  might  carry  before  her  on  the  roadway.  Under 
the  trainer's  care  the  mare  soon  understood  that  the  objects  of  which 
she  had  stood  in  fear  were  harmless,  and  coolly  walked  over  a  quantity 
of  large  white  sheets  that  had  been  thrown  upon  the  sawdust.  A 
vicious  kicker  was  quieted  soon  into  the  gentlest  submission.  A  brown 
horse  belonging  to  a  prominent  lightning-rod  firm  was  next  led  into 
the  hall.  The  horse  was  a  '  runaway,'  and  was  declared  unmanageable 
1)V  it^  owners.  At  the  expiration  of  ten  minutes  an  open  umbrella 
flourished  about  its  head  did  not  disturb  the  perfect  composure  of 
the  animal;  she  did  not  raise  a  hoof  from  the  floor  when  the  Professor 
repeatedly  fired  a  pistol  from  the  animal's  back." 

Thus  Professor  Gleason  closed  his  first  exhibition  in  Chicago,  and 
went  to  the  Hamlin  Stock  Farm  at  Aurora,  N.  Y.,  15  miles  from 
Buffalo.  Here  he  commenced  his  duties  as  manager,  and  many  and 
endless  were  the  duties  he  had   to  encounter.     On  the  farm  were  116 


—  475  — 

horses  that  Mr.  Hamliii  was  to  get  ready  fur  his  sale,  which  took 
place  Iq  May.  It  was  a  pretty  picture  to  see  this  number  of  blooded 
horses  in  the  finest  possible  condition  in  one  grand  [)rocession  in  their 
march  to  the  Buffalo  Driving  Park.  But  the  manager  terminated  his 
engagement  in  three  months,  and  then  gave  a  public  exhibition,  draw- 
ing the  lai-gest  concourse  of  people  that  ever  assembled  at  East  Aurora. 
Bidding  Mr.  Hamlin  and  his  new-made  friends  adieu,  he  turned  his 
back  on  the  States,  taking  flight  to  Toronto,  Canada,  not  in  the  role 
of  a  bank  cashier  fleeing  from  justice,  but  prospecting  for  new  fields 
in  which  he  could  prosecute  his  business.  His  first  exhibition  after 
reaching  Canada  was  in  the  old  Riding  Academy  at  Toronto,  where  he 
gave  exhibitions  for  four  weeks,  meeting  with  grand  success,  handling 
150  head  of  horses,  at  the  close  of  wdiicli  he  received  the  following 
letter  and  $500  in  gold  : 

Toronto,  Canada,  November  12th,  1885. 
Professor  0.  R.  Gleason: 

Sir  : — On  behalf  of  some  of  the  horse-owners  of  the  City  of  Toronto, 
I  take  the  opportunity  to  present  you  with  this  purse  as  a  small  token 
of  esteem.  We  hope  your  efforts  have  been  successful  to  enlighten  and 
establish  in  our  minds  the  many  benefits  to  be  derived  from  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  horse,  and  how  to  handle  and  train  him,  as  so  ably 
explained  by  you  in  your  lectures.  Hoping  your  stay  in  Toronto  has 
been  beneficial,  we  trust  your  course  may  be  as  prosperous  in  the 
future. 

Respectfully,  Alex.  Munning, 

Mayor  of  Toronto. 

From  Toronto  he  went  to  Hamilton,  London,  St.  Catherine's,  and 
all  the  small  towns,  filling  engagements  with  agricultural  societies. 
His  success  in  Canada  was  very  satisfactory  financially,  and  he  handled 
1,243  horses.  He  then  left  for  Boston,  stopping  at  Albany,  Holyoke, 
and  Springfield.  At  Springfield  he  made  a  stay  of  two  weeks,  forming 
the  largest  class  (680  meml)ers)  that  w^as  ever  held  in  the  city. 

He  opened  in  the  city  of  Boston  on  January  25th,  1886,  at  the  old 
"  Boston  Riding  Academy,"  on  AVashington  Street.  On  the  opening 
night  the  Academy  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  ;  "and,"  says 
the  Professor,  "  during  my  intermission  of  tea  minutes'  duration,  while 
sitting  in  my  dressing-room,  who  should  present  himself  at  the  door 


—  476  — 


MEDAL   PRESENTED   TO   PROF.   GLEASON,   BY   THE   MAYOR   OF  BUFFALO,  K.  Y. 


—  477  — 

but  ray  old  instructor,  Professor  Williaras,  who  was  residing  at  this  time 
in  the  city  of  Boston.  To  say  I  was  surprised  would  be  putting  it 
mildly,  for  he  was  the  furthest  person  from  my  thoughts.  I  was  very 
glad  to  meet  my  old  tutor  again  on  earth,  and  was  also  very  glad  to 
have  him  for  one  of  my  audience.  After  passing  a  few  pleasant  re- 
minders and  allusions  to  the  days  of  '  Auld  Lang  Syne,'  we  separated 
to  meet  again  on  the  following  evening,  on  a  cordial  invitation,  and  in 
such  a  way  as  the  reader  will  see. 

"  During  the  following  day,  acting  upon  a  suggestion  from  my  wife, 
we  together  arranged  a  little  surprise  (that  was  not  mentioned  on  the 
bills)  for  our  audience,  and  personally  aimed  at  Professor  C.  H.  C 
Williams.  At  the  expiration  of  my  intermission  on  this  second  even- 
ing, as  I  was  about  to  commence  the  continuation  of  the  evening's 
entertainment,  I  called  Professor  Williams  into  the  ring,  presented  to 
him  a  gold-headed  cane,  and  made  the  following  remarks  : 

" '  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — Ten  years  ago  I,  a  Worcester  County 
boy,  hearing  that  Professor  C.  H.  C.  Williams,  a  celebrated  hoi-se- 
trainer  and  educator,  was  about  opening  a  class  of  scholars  to  receive  in- 
structions as  how  to  train  the  vicious  horse,  in  our  vicinity,  I  embraced 
the  opportunity  of  attending  his  course,  and  became  so  infatuated  with 
his  system  that  he  made  so  plain,  that  I  embraced  it,  and  have  made 
it  the  study  of  my  life.  If  in  the  many  long  years  that  have  passed, 
by  unremitting  toil  and  indomitable  will  I  have  made  any  favorable 
changes  or  improvements  from  the  system  which  he  then  taught,  I  can 
only  ask  him  to  be  lenient  with  me.  And  now,  Professor  Williams,  per- 
mit me,  sir,  to  present  you  with  this  cane,  as  a  token  of  my  regard  and 
esteem,  as  I  shall  regard  you  always  my  first  instructor;  and  as  you 
lean  upon  this  staff  may  it  be  as  great  a  support  to  your  descent  of  the 
hill  as  your  early  lessons  to  me  have  been  in  ascending.' 

"  Professor  Williams  replied  as  follows : 

"  *  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — This  is  a  complete  surprise  to  me.  I 
have  been  present  for  two  evenings,  and  am  much  pleased  with  the 
great  success  of  a  former  pupil  of  mine.  I  am  convinced  that  Mr. 
Gleason  has  well  and  thoroughly  learned  what  I  always  tried  to  impart 
to  my  pupils,  and  must  herein  acknowledge  that  he  has  made  a  great 
improvement  in  the  system  I  then  taught,  and  if  I  make  the  proclama- 
tion before  you  to-night  that  he  stands  before  you  this  evening  the 


—  473  — 

champion  of  his  profession,  I  feel  that  I  am  only  giving  words  to  the 
minds  of  this  audience.  Mr.  Gleason,  I  accept  with  pleasure  this  beau- 
tiful gold-headed  cane,  and  thank  you  heartily  for  the  same.'" 

Professor  Gleason  continued  his  exhibitions  in  his  academy  for  14 
consecutive  nights.  The  horsemen  of  the  city  of  Boston  presented  to 
him  a  gold  watch,  of  which  event  the  Boston  Herald  of  February  27th, 
1886,  makes  the  following  mention  : 

"An  audience  of  about  500  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  present  at 
Professor  Gleason's  equine  school  (Boston  Riding  School)  last  evening 
to  witness  his  handling  of  vicious  horses  and  were  treated  to  a  little  act 
which  was  not  on  the  published  programme.  After  working  unceas- 
ingly for  over  an  hour  with  an  especially  vicious  animal,  the  Professor 
took  an  intermission  of  perhaps  15  minutes  previous  to  exhibiting  some 
trick  horses  which  he  has  in  charge.  As  he  stepped  into  the  arena  at 
the  close  of  the  intermission,  he  called  to  his  attendants  to  bring  in 
one  of  the  horses,  an  elegant  animal  owned  by  a  South-end  stable- 
keeper,  but  instead  of  the  horse  being  led  into  the  ring,  ex-Councilman 
Charles  W.  Whitcomb  stepped  to  the  centre,  and  in  a  witty  speech  pre- 
sented to  Mr.  Gleason  an  elegant  gold  hunting-case  first  quality 
Howard  watch  and  chain.  Professor  Gleason  was  completely  taken 
by  surprise.  In  expressing  his  thanks  to  the  donors  he  announced  that 
this  w^ould  not  be  his  last  appearance  in  Boston,  as  was  expected,  for, 
owing  to  the  large  number  of  horses  he  had  been  called  upon  to  train, 
and  also  from  the  fact  that  he  had  arranged  to  teach  a  number  of 
horses  tricks,  he  had  decided  to  remain  in  Boston  a  month  longer. 
The  watch  bears  on  the  front  case  the  monogram  '  O.  R.  G.,'  and  on 
the  reverse  is  an  engraving  of  a  horse,  which  is  said  to  be  an  excellent 
likeness  of  Jerome  Eddy,  a  stallion  having  a  record  of  2.16*.  On  the 
inside  of  the  case  is  the  following  inscription  :  '  Presented  to  Professor 
O.  R.  Gleason  by  his  friends  in  Boston,  February  27th,  1886.'" 

On  the  evening  of  this  presentation  Professor  Gleason  also  received 
a  testimonial,  couched  in  these  terms  : 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  have  attended  Professor  O.  R.  Gleason's  ex- 
hibitions and  have  been  greatly  instructed  and  much  pleased.  His 
wonderful  success  proves  that  his  methods  far  surpass  all  others,  and 
the  practical  illustration  of  the  same  receives  our  hearty  indorsement. 
No  abuse  of  nor  acts  of  cruelty  to  the  dumb  animals  in  his  hands  has 


—  479  — 

been  seen  or  made  use  of,  education  instead  of  'breaking'  evidently 
being  bis  motto.  Professor  Gleason  deserves  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  Bostonians  for  the  great  and  lasting  benefit  he  has  conferred  upon 
the  horse  by  instructing  the  horse  owners  and  blacksmiths,  coachmen 
and  drivers." 

This  was  signed  by  218  citizens  of  Boston  and  neighboring  places, 
including  many  eminent  professional  and  business  men.  He  also  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  H.  L.  Whitney,  of  Boston,  a  little  later,  a  letter 
from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken  : 

"  Horsemanship,  like  generalship,  is  a  natural  endowment.  Some 
men  are  born  to  command  ;  others  have  no  magnetic  force  to  inspire 
courage  and  confidence  in  themselves  or  others.  You  have  a  nervous, 
sanguine  temperament,  and  instinctively  rise  to  a  point  seemingly  be- 
yond the  reach  of  an  emergency.  Your  confidence  in  your  ability  to 
control  any  horse  in  an  inconceivably  short  time  (to  lookers-on)  is  a 
marvel  to  horsemen.  Were  horses  as  treacherous  as  men,  you  could 
not  have  handled  upwards  of  17,000  and  to  day  be  a  living  witness  to 
your  great  success  in  the  art  of  horsemanship.  In  my  opinion  you 
control  largely  by  force  of  your  dominant  superiority  over  the  brute 
creation.  This  power  was  made  absolute  in  the  first  man  which  history 
records,  but  in  these  latter  days  much  of  its  supremacy  has  been  lost. 
Many  have  essayed  to  regain  that  complete  mastery,  some  by  means 
brutal  in  the  extreme,  others  by  kindness  alone.  Neither  of  the 
methods  have  been  more  than  partially  successful.  Kindness  is  indis- 
pensable, but  must  follow  the  impress  of  fear,  indelibly  stamped  upon 
the  animal,  then  to  gain  his  confidence,  at  the  same  time  holding  over 
him  the  symbols  with  which  he  was  subdued,  he  continues  a  willing 
and  obedient  servant.  I  think  these  principles  are  fully  established  in 
your  methods." 

Professor  Gleason  went  from  the  old  riding  academy  to  the  "  High- 
land Eiuk,"  and  remained  there  four  weeks.  Then  he  left  Boston  for 
New  York,  to  make  his  first  appearance  in  the  capital  of  the  conti- 
nent. His  exhibitions  there  were  managed  by  Mr.  Fred  Lovecraft, 
Secretary  of  the  Coney  Island  Jockey  Club,  and  took  place  in  Cosmo- 
politan Hall,  a  large  building  at  Forty-first  Street  and  Broadv/ay. 
They  were  the  first  performances  of  the  kind  given  in  New  York  since 
those  given  by  the  famous  horse-tamer  Rarey,  in  1860.     It  is  estimated, 


—  480  — 

said  a  newspaper  writer,  "  that  there  is  $3,000,000  worth  of  fiiTt-ciass 
horseflesh  in  and  about  the  city  of  New  York,  and  it  may  be  doubted 
if  any  class  of  property  can  enlist  more  general  interest  or  wider 
sympathy  than  this.  Everything  which  gives  information  concerning 
the  general  management  and  control  of  horses  is  of  necessity  not  only 
interesting  and  entertaining,  but  valuable,  and  valuable  not  alone  to  the 
Bonners  of  the  earth,  who  have  fortunes  invested  in  horses,  not  alone  to 
the  patrons  of  the  turf  who  gain  their  living  by  their  familiarity  with 
speeders  and  flyers,  but  to  the  great  array  of  men  who  drive,  tend,  and 
look  after  horses  in  the  stable,  in  the  smithy,  and  along  the  lines  of 
travel  or  occupation." 

On  the  opening  night,  April  19th,  the  great  hall  was  crowded  with 
an  eager  and  intelligent  audience.  Professor  Gleason  iutroduced 
thereto  a  notorious  man-killing  stallion  named  "  Rysdyck,"  which  had 
killed  its  groom  a  few  days  before  and  which  had  been  sent  on  from 
Montreal,  Canada,  expressly  for  him  to  deal  with.  When  people  en- 
tered the  house  they  saw  a  big  brown  horse  standing  inside  an  in- 
closure  of  board  fence.  Professor  Gleason  appeared  and  spoke  briefly 
to  the  audience.  He  intimated  that  most  horses  had  more  intelligence 
than  their  drivers,  and  after  a  few  encouraging  remarks  entered  the 
pen  with  the  stallion,  carrying  a  whip  and  a  revolver  loaded  with  blank 
cartridges.  He  spoke  to  the  animal  in  a  loud  tone  and  then  walked 
toward  him.  The  stallion  moved  into  a  corner  of  the  pen  and  turned 
his  heels  toward  the  Professor,  Instantly  he  received  several  stinging 
blows  around  his  hind  legs.  Then  he  turned  his  head  toward  the  Pro- 
fessor, who  cautiously  reached  out  his  hand  and  patted  the  beast  on 
the  shoulder.  Two  or  three  times  this  was  repeated,  each  time  the 
trainer  going  closer  to  the  horse. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  cry  from  the  audience.  Like  a  flash  the  stal- 
lion had  turned  and  seized  the  Professor  by  the  right  fore-arm  with  his 
gleaming  white  teeth.  The  instructor  dropped  his  whip,  and  with  a 
violent  effort  wrenched  his  arm  free.  Then  he  fired  the  revolver 
several  times  in  front  of  the  brute's  nose.  The  animal  sprang  wildly 
around  the  ring  and  nearly  knocked  down  the  fence.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  ran  into  a  corner  again.  Then  the  Professor  resumed  his 
former  tactics.  He  made  the  horse  stop  at  the  word  "whoa  "  a  num- 
ber of  times.  Then  he  began  to  pat  him  on  the  near  shoulder  again. 
Once  more  the  angry  beast  whirled  and  snapped  at  the  Professor's 


—  481  — 

breast,  hitting  him  a  powerful  blow  with  his  strong  teeth.  The  re- 
volver came  into  play  again.  Then  the  animal's  hind  legs  were 
lashed.  Once  more  the  Professor  patted  him.  The  animal's  coat  was 
wet  and  he  was  blowing  like  a  racer.  He  made  no  more  atteinpts  lo 
bite. 

In  just  twenty-five  minutes  after  entering  the  pen  Professor  Gleason 
put  a  halter  on  the  stallion,  and  had  the  fence  taken  down.  Then  he 
called  for  a  small  rope,  and  put  a  "  double  Bonaparte  "  on  the  horse. 
He  passed  the  rope  around  his  neck,  through  his  mouth,  over  the  top 
of  his  head,  under  his  upper  lip,  and  through  the  circle  around  his 
neck.  He  made  the  stallion  follow  him  wherever  he  went.  Then  he 
put  a  bridle  on  him,  and  took  off  the  Bonaparte.  Next  he  put  on  a 
big  surcingle  with  a  ring  underneath.  Two  straps  were  put  around 
the  animal's  fore  fetlocks.  A  rope  was  fastened  to  the  near  one, 
passed  through  the  ring  in  the  surcingle,  down  through  the  ring  in 
the  other  fetlock  strap,  and  back  through  the  surcingle  ring.  Then  a 
pair  of  reins  were  put  on.  and  the  Professor  drove  the  animal  around 
the  ring,  usiag  the  rope  to  hoist  the  near  fore  foot  whenever  the  brute 
tried  to  kick.  In  a  short  time  he  put  the  harness  on  him,  hitched  him 
to  a  buggy,  juniped  in  and  drove  him,  finally  starting  him  and  stop- 
ping liim  by  verbal  command.  Then  he  had  a  big  bass  drum  ham- 
mered near  his  head,  and  tin  pans  and  sleigh-bells  rattled.  The 
stallion  went  straight  up  to  them,  and  was  not  annoyed  by  them  after 
a  few  trials.  The  Professor  laid  down  the  lines,  put  his  feet  on  the 
dashboard,  and  fired  the  revolver.  The  stallion  stood  like  a  statue. 
A  horse  afraid  of  paper  was  next  brought  in.  The  Professor  soon 
had  paper  all  around  his  held,  threw  it  at  him,  made  him  w^alk  over 
it,  and  act  as  if  there  was  nothing  in  the  world  he  liked  better  than 
paper.  A  kicker  was  put  inco  double  harness  with  this  horse,  and 
both  acted  beautifully. 

A  few  days  later  "  Rysdyck  "  was  driven  about  the  streets  of  New 
York,  a  perfect  model  of  gentleness.  At  another  exhibition  that  same 
week,  another  notorious  brute,  called  "  Ugly  Mary,"  was  managed  by 
Professor  Gleason.   Says  a  reporter  of  the  scene  in  the  New  York  Sun : 

"  'Ugly  Mary,'  a  big  chestnut  mare,  with  a  muzzle  on,  w\as  brought 
into  the  Cosmopolitan  Hall  ring  last  night,  and  a  call  was  made  for 
her  owner  to  tell  what  vice  she  had.     Mr.  Jones,  manager  of  Derland's 


—  482  — 

stables,  where  the  mare  is  boarded,  said,  as  the  representative  of  the 
owner : 

"  *  This  mare  is  a  notorious  biter.  She  killed  a  man  in  Boston.  In 
our  stable  we  always  have  to  keep  a  muzzle  on  her.  There  is  only  one 
man  who  can  harness  her  or  handle  her  in  the  stall.  If  he  is  not 
about  her  owner  can't  go  riding.  She  is  a  biter  from  Bitersville.  Put 
your  fist  in  her  face,  and  she'll  eat  you  up.' 

*'In  subsequent  conversation  he  said  that  she  was  formerly  the 
property  of  Mr.  David  Scott,  who,  to  get  rid  of  her,  gave  her  to 
Colonel  Van  Wyck,  her  present  owner.  When  her  owner  drives  her 
out  on  the  road  there  is  only  one  place  at  which  he  can  stop,  for  there 
is  but  one  man,  John  Quinn,  who  will  dare  to  put  her  in  the  shed. 

"  After  a  few  minutes'  struggle  the  mare  was  thrown  down  by  means 
of  the  *  double  safety  rope,'  and  Professor  Gleason,  while  sitting  on 
her,  made  a  little  speech,  condemning  cruelty  to  horses,  and  compli- 
menting Mr.  Heury  Bergh — with  whom  he  had  had  a  long  and  pleas- 
ant explanatory  interview  in  the  afternoon — for  his  good  work  in  pro- 
tecting valuable  animals.  When  the  mare  was  allowed  to  get  up,  the 
muzzle  was  taken  off  her,  and  the  '  double  Bonaparte  bridle '  was  put 
on.  During  the  operation  she  only  made  one  snap  at  the  trainer's 
hands,  and  seemed  to  regret  that  the  moment  after,  when  she  caught 
his  eye.  This  bridle  is  very  nearly  the  same  as  the 'Eureka' — a 
mere  bit  of  slender  cord — except  that  its  free  end  is  not  bi'ought  up 
and  fastened  to  the  neck-loop,  but  is  run  through  straight  and  held  to 
be  pulled  on  when  coercion  seems  desirable.  With  that  contrivance 
she  was  so  completely  demoralized  and  subjugated  that  she  submitted 
to  being  harnessed  again  and  a^ain,  without  a  sign  of  biting,  even  after 
it  was  taken  off,  and  she  was  only  held  by  a  loose  halter.  She  was 
even  let  go  into  the  ring  with  only  the  halter  on,  and  followed  the 
trainer  about  and  obeyed  him  with  the  docility  of  a  pet  dog.  This, 
Professor  Gleason  said,  *  did  not  show  that  she  was  cured  of  biting,  but 
that  she  could  be  cured  if  her  owner  would  only  put  her  through  a 
course  of  such  training  himself." 

From  New  York  Professor  Gleason  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  gave 
exhibitions  for  two  weeks  at  McCauU's  Opera  House,  after  which  he 
took  a  much-needed  vacation.  His  eleventh  year's  work  was  begun  at 
Lynn,  Mass.,  on  August  1st,  1886,  and  soon  after  he  went  to  Boston 


—  483  — 

again  for  a  three  weeks'  season.  His  tour  was  continued  to  Portland 
and  Lewiston,  Maine,  and  to  Montreal,  Canada.  The  last  named 
place  was  the  home  of  the  stallion  "Rysdyck,"  which  had  been  so 
thoroughly  subdued  in  New  York,  and  there  was,  of  course,  much 
eagerness  to  see  the  horse  trainer  who  had  accomplished  that  extra- 
ordinary feat.  "  During  my  stay,"  says  Professor  Gleasou,  "I  learned 
from  Mr.  Kimball,  the  owner  of  *  Rysdyck,'  that  he  had  had  that 
horse  at  the  Dominion  Fair,  Sherbrook,  Canada,  and  had  slept  with 
him  every  night  in  his  stall,  proving  the  thorough  and  practical  utility 
of  my  work." 

The  next  city  visited  was  Albany,  and  then  he  returned  to  New 
York,  and  was  seen  again  at  the  Cosmopolitan  Hall  for  several 
weeks,  handling  horses  for  many  of  the  wealthiest  and  best-known 
horse-owners  in  the  city.  A  tour  was  then  made  through  Rochester, 
Syracuse,  and  Utica  ;  thence  to  Lancaster,  and  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  At 
the  last-named  place  he  gave  21  exhibitions,  and  haudled  436  horses. 
Next  he  visited  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  then  conceived  the  daring  plan  of 
leasing  the  vast  Madison  Square  Garden,  in  New  York,  which  had  a 
seating  capacity  of  7,000.  His  friends  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  this 
enterprise,  fearing  it  would  prove  disastrous,  but  he  persevered.  For 
six  nights  the  place  was  crowded,  57,330  tickets  being  sold  and  taken 
at  the  doors. 

Baltimore  was  next  visited,  and  then  Washington,  where  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Cabinet  and  both  Houses  of  Congress  attended  his  exhibi- 
tions. Among  the  many  notices  and  testimonials  received  by  him  at 
the  national  capital  was  the  following : 

"  House  of  Representatives,  ) 

"  Washington,  D.  C,  April  9th,  1887.  3 
"  This  is  to  certify  that  I  own  a  mare  who  has  been  justly  termed 
*  the  star  kicker  of  Prince  George's  County,  Maryland.'  The  person 
who  attempted  to  harness  her  took  his  life  in  his  hand,  so  dangerous 
and  vicious  was  the  animal  that  she  would  relieve  herself  of  the  har- 
ness. Hearino-  that  Professor  Oscar  R.  Gleason,  the  celebrated  horse 
tamer,  was  in  Washington,  I  had  the  mare  brought  up  from  my  farm 
in  Maryland  and  took  her  to  the  Professor.  After  one  trial  the  mare 
was  thoroughly  subdued,  and  is  now  as  docile  as  a  lamb.  I  give  this 
certificate  to  Professor  Gleason  unasked,  as  a  testimony  to  his  skill 


—  484  — 

and  as  a  slight  appreciation  of  the  service  rendered  me  in  transform- 
ing a  worthless  animal  into  a  valuable  one,  as  the  mare  is  now  safe  in 
any  harness,  tit  even  for  a  lady  to  drive  with  perfect  safety. 

"Major  A.  O.  Bkummel." 

The  spring  of  1887  found  Professor  Gleason  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  It 
was  his  first  visit  to  that  place  since  the  clo-e  of  his  engagement  as 
manager  of  Mr.  Hamlin's  stock  farm,  and  he  was  warmly  greeted  by 
his  old  friends.  He  had  made  since  last  there  a  number  of  valuable 
additions  to  his  exhibition,  which  fact  was  so  apparent  that,  without 
his  knowledge  and  to  his  very  great  surprise  on  the  last  and  closing 
night  of  his  engagement  and  during  his  ten  minutes'  intermission,  he 
was  called  from  his  dressing-room,  and  without  warning  there  was  pre- 
sented to  him  a  solid  gold  badge,  studded  with  rubies  and  diamonds. 
Said  the  Sunday  Truth,  of  Buffalo : 

"  During  the  past  week  Professor  Gleason's  performances  at  the 
Main  Street  Rink  have  attracted  large  audiences,  many  of  our  promi- 
nent men  becoming  interested  to  such  an  extent  in  his  wouderful 
handling  of  vicious  horses  that  they  determined  to  present  him  with 
a  testimonial  of  their  admiration  and  esteem.  Accordingly,  Messrs. 
Ruger  &  Kimball  were  instructed  to  prepare  an  appropriate  medal. 
It  consists  of  a  pin  set  with  rubies  and  diamonds.  Below  the  piu  are 
two  clasped  hands,  showing  the  cuff  buttons,  which  are  set  with  dia- 
monds. Attached  to  the  bar  is  a  shield  on  which  is  represented  the 
13  original  States  by  13  stars,  and  a  vicious  horse  in  a  rearing  posi- 
tion. The  pin  weighs  90  pennyweights  and  costs  $600.  It  is  em- 
blematical of  American  in  every  detail,  and  is  a  fitting  tribute  for  the 
Professor  to  carry  with  him  on  his  European  trip.  It  was  presented 
during  the  customary  10  minutes'  intermission  which  Mr.  Gleason 
takes  in  his  exhibitions  by  Mayor  Becker  on  behalf  of  his  Buffalo 
friends.  The  Mayor  made  the  presentation  in  a  few  well-chosen  words, 
and  the  Professor,  who  was  completely  taken  by  surprise,  recovered 
himself  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to  make  a  reply,  which  evidenced 
the  gratitude  and  appreciation  with  which  he  accepted  this  unexpected 
testimonial." 

From  Buffalo  he  went  to  the  Pennsylvania  mountain  regions  where 
years  bef  )re  he  had  found  his  wife.  His  success  there  may  be  told  in 
the  following  words  of  a  newspaper  writer ; 


—  485- 

"  We  have  visited  Professor  O.  K.  Gkason's  exhibition  the  past 
week  at  the  county  seat,  whose  wonderful  powers  to  control  horses  of 
the  most  vicious  nature  in  a  short  time,  completely  breaking  an  in- 
telligent one  to  be  the  most  docile  of  beasts,  it  would  simply  be  foolish 
for  us  to  attempt  to  describe  in  detail.  His  exhibition  has  to  be  seen 
to  be  appreciated,  as  pen  cannot  describe.  He  has  been  in  the  coal 
fields  at  IScranion  and  Wilkesbarre  for  the  past  ten  days,  giving  his 
farewell  exhibition  at  Wilkesbarre,  Friday  evening,  a  three  days' 
rStand.  The  Professor  was  only  advertised  April  21st  and  22d,  but 
after  such  a  jihenomenal  success  in  large  audiences  and  giving  such 
great  satisfaction,  by  special  request  gave  the  third  exhibition — a  fare- 
well— at  Wilkesbarre,  on  Friday,  and  to  one  of  the  greatest  audiences 
a  horse  educator  ever  drew  in  that  city,  several  hundred  people  leav- 
ing that  would  not  stand  the  crush  of  limited  standing-room.  The 
Professor  Avill  leave  the  coal  fields  by  special  train  for  Cincinnati. 
The  Professor  has  held  810,000  audiences  at  Madison  Square,  New 
York,  and  given  special  exhibitions  to  what  is  called  the  highest  of 
the  elite — the  President,  Senators,  etc. — which  has  been  appreciated  in 
a  manner  worthy  and  due  this  wonderful  horseman.  We  will  close, 
for  as  we  said  before,  we  cannot  do  the  gentleman  justice,  and  would 
advise  all  who  can  to  go  and  see  him.  We  admit  we  made  two  special 
trips  to  see  the  Professor  perform  while  in  Wilkesbarre,  and  we  close, 
wishing  him  the  success  he  so  richly  deserves  in  his  tour  around  the 
world.  Hoping  he  will  return  safe  and  sound  and  still  more  wealthy, 
as  he  had  worked  himself  up  from  the  *  poverty  rung  '  of  the  ladder 
to  where  lie  now  is,  and  still  higher  may  he  go,  is  our  most  sincere 
wish." 

The  next  city  visited  was  Cincinnati,  where  exhibitions  were  given 
in  the  great  Music  Hall,  one  the  largest  and  most  splendid  edifices  of 
the  kind  in  America.  It  seemed  strange  to  have  a  horse-training  show 
given  on  the  very  stage  on  which  the  world's  greatest  singers  and  ora- 
tors had  appeared.  But  the  hall  was  nightly  thronged  with  appreci- 
ative spectators.  Then  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  and  other 
places  in  Missouri.  Afterward  he  went  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  through 
the  leading  towns  in  Indiana,  arriving  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  June  20th, 
1887.  After  remaining  here  one  week,  doing  a  successful  business,  he 
left  for  Saratoga  Springs,  to  enjoy  a  few  weeks  of  much-needed  rest, 
and  handled  the  famous  man-eating  stallion,  "  Wilson,"  which  had  an 


—  486  — 

undisputed  record  of  having  killed  four  men.  It  was  led  into  the  ring 
with  a  bridle  that  it  had  worn  constantly  for  over  three  years,  night 
and  day,  also  an  iron  muzzle  weighing  over  three  pounds.  Some  of 
the  audience  at  that  time  dropped  a  remark  which  reached  Gleason's 
ears  that  they  guessed  "  the  horse  was  not  so  bad  after  all,"  whereupon 
Gleason  offered  $50  to  any  one  who  would  take  the  muzzle  and 
I  ridle  off;  an  offer  that  was  not  accepted. 

The  autumn  of  1887  found  Professor  Gleason  busy  at  various  agri- 
cultural fairs  in  New  York,  Xew  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
November  he  exhibited  at  Providence,  R.  I.  How  he  was  esteemed 
in  that  city  may  be  judged  from  this  quotation  from  The  Providence 
Telegram,  of  November  3d  : 

"  Professor  Oscar  R.  Gleason  came  to  Providence  well  known  to  horse- 
men. His  wonderful  successes  in  the  large  cities  of  the  country  in 
subduing  vicious  animals,  breaking  young  or  old  horses,  or  curing 
them  of  disagreeable  traits  has  reached  Providence.  It  was  then  no 
surprise  that  the  riding  school  should  have  held  a  large  number  of 
spectators  last  evening  at  his  open  performance,  and  among  that  num- 
ber were  many  ladies. 

"  Professor  Gleason's  method  seems  to  be  a  sensible  one,  and  after 
giving  the  theory  he  demonstrates  the  practice.  Knowing  the  traits 
of  horses,  and  he  gives  them  credit  for  being  almost  human,  he  treats 
them  with  that  same  judgment  which  would  be  used  by  a  father  to  his 
child.  He  shows  the  horse  that  he  is  his  master;  that  he  is  a  loving 
master ;  that  he  is  a  master  to  be  feared.  Whenever  the  horse  does 
wrong  he  receives  instant  punishment,  not  brutal,  but  effectual. 
AVhen  he  does  right  he  is  rewarded." 

From  Providence  he  went  to  Wooster,  Mass.,  where  he  exhibited 
for  one  week  to  the  capacity  of  the  house.  The  reader  will  remember 
on  lookino;  back  to  the  commencement  of  his  career  as  a  horse  trainer, 
that  the  first  horse  he  ever  trained  as  a  trick  horse,  and  to  drive  with- 
out lines,  was  a  "buckskin  "  mare,  with  which  he  has  a  sorrowful 
partinir  at  the  time  his  father  and  he  parted  after  dissolving  their 
partnership,  the  fotber  taking  all  the  stock  v>-ith  him  to  Vermont. 
"  Well,  on  my  arrival  in  Wooster,"  says  Professor  Gleason,  "  I  was  re- 
latins:  to  some  bystanders  the  many  things  I  liad  taught  her  to  do, 
and  ou  describing  the  mare  so  perfectly,  a  gentleman  standing  by  said 


—  437- 

lie  knew  ui'  a  buckskin  mare  that  was  owned  by  a  physiciaji  about  15 
miles  away,  that  was  the  counterpart  of  the  one  I  was  talking  about. 
Although  I  thouglit  it  not  at  all  probable,  yet  I  deemed  it  perhaps 
possible  that  it  might  be  my  'Topsy'  of  the  days  of  long  ago. 
Whereupon  I  telephoned  to  the  doctor  that  if  he  would  bring  the 
mare  to  my  exhibition  (it  being  the  last  of  my  series  at  this  time;  I 
would  give  him  S15,  which  he  consented  to  do.  I  will  here  make  the 
confessfon  that  I  was  anxious  to  see  and  verify,  if  possible,  the  actual 
strength  of  a  horse's  memory,  there  having  been  a  lapse  of  about  11 
years°since  I  had  seen  the  mare.  The  doctor  came,  arriving  at  about 
five  p.  M.,  but  I  did  not  go  near  or  see  the  mare  until  in  the  presence 
of  my  audience  that  evening." 

At  the  commencement  of  the  show  several  bad  animals  were  brought 
in  to  have  their  various  faults  corrected.  The  Professor  put  them 
throudi  a  similar  course  of  treatment  to  that  of  other  evenings,  and 
they  became  docile.  He  then  gave  them  an  exhibition  of  driving  his 
trained  horse,  "  Ham,"  without  bridle  or  reins,  simply  using  the  whip 
as  a  guide.  The  animal's  obedience  showed  his  trainer's  skill,  and 
called  forth  much  applause  from  the  spectators.  Then  the  "  buckskin  " 
mare  was  brought  in.  This  animal  had  been  exhibited  by  him  in 
Philadelphia  and  Baltim.ore.  Eleven  years  before  he  had  sold  her  in 
Jamaica,  Vermont ;  from  there  she  had  been  sold  to  different  owners, 
having  been  used  for  over  a  year  on  the  horse-cars  in  Wooster,  and 
finally  coming  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  Kelsey.  When  she  first 
came  upon  the  track.  Professor  Gleason  called  her  to  come  to  him, 
but  she  responded  by  running  in  the  opposite  direction.  He  then  put 
a  rope  on  her,  and  she  seemed  suddenly  to  remember  her  old  master 
and  trainer.  The  rope  was  removed,  and  she  went  through  all  sorts 
of  tricks — laughing,  dancing,  pawing,  and  many  others.  She  was  then 
hitched  up  without  a  bridle  and  driven.  Professor  Gleason  made  her 
stop,  paw,  snort,  and  rear,  as  if  balking,  and  then,  at  the  motion  of  his 
whip,  start  on  again.  Dr.  Kelsey,  the  owner,  was  present,  and  said 
that  he  had  never  known  that  the  mare  could  perform  any  of  the>e 
tricks. 

From  Wooster,  Mass.,  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  fillingf  a  second 
engagement  of  two  weeks'  duration,  during  w^hich  time  he  bandied  a 
man-eating  stallion,  known  as  the  "Nelson  Horse,"  from  Virginia, 
weighing  2,200  pounds.     This  was  the  most  vicious  brute  that  was  ever 


—  488  — 

handled  in  that  chj,  and  it  fought  desperately  for  about  one  and  one- 
half  hours.  On  this  occasion  over  2,000  jjeople  were  turned  away  from 
the  doors,  there  not  being  standing-rouiu  for  them.  Professor  Gleasun 
also  handled  the  mammoth  biting  stallion,  "  GalipoU,"  Irom  Pennsyl- 
vania, weighing  over  a  ton,  and  standing  18  hands  high.  The  Profes- 
sor in  a  very  short  time  had  him  under  control,  and  put  his  arm  in  his 
mouth,  giving  him  all  the  chance  possible  to  bite  him,  but  the  stallion 
thought  that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  behaved  like 
a  pet  dog. 

During  this  visit  to  Washington  Professor  Gleason  attracted  the 
attention  of  members  of  the  Cabinet  and  of  Congress  very  greatly, 
and  Representative  Wise  introduced  a  bill  j^roviding  that  the  Profes- 
sor should  be  requested  to  write  a  book  embracing  his  entire  system  of 
"  training  and  educating  horses,  the  science  of  horse-shoeing,"  etc.,  and 
that  Congress  should  purchase  and  publish  said  book  for  Government 
use  and  the  improvement  of  military  service  of  the  United  States 
Armies. 

From  Washington,  D.  C,  he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  awaited 
his  coming  a  large  number  of  the  most  vicious  horses  in  the  country. 
While  he  was  there  he  heard  of  a  notorious  brute  called  "  Holliugs- 
worth's  Dvnamite."  His  owner  wrote  to  Gleason  about  it,  and  the 
latter  offered  to  subdue  it.     Then  the  owner  wrote  again,  as  follows : 

"  Your  letter  just  received  in  answer  to  the  one  I  wrote  you  about 
my  '  dynamite  horse ' ;  for  he  comes  to  the  front  in  being  one  of  the 
worst  sly  and  biting  horses  in  this  country.  I  am  sorry  you  are  too 
far  off  to  get  this  horse  to  you,  but,  nevertheless,  I  shall  secure  plenty 
of  help  and  ropes,  and  by  getting  in  the  hay-mow  will  carry  out  the 
idea  stated  in  your  letter,  of  how  to  handle  him  to  get  him  to  the 
depot.  And  right  at  this  point  let  me  say,  for  God's  sake,  be  on  the 
watch,  for  I  have  not  fully  recovered  from  my  wounds.  Professor,  if 
you  can  handle  this  horse,  to  make  him  quiet,  you  are  something  more 
than  a  man  of  ordinary  ability.  I  can  say  nothing,  but  await  for 
general  results,  and  may  God  grant  you  may  handle  and  break  him  as 
you  stated  without  getting  wounded  or  killed.  I  have  tried  to  tell  you 
how  bad  he  is  but  I  cannot,  for  he  is  the  devil  with  a  man's  life." 

Nearly  4,000  people  came  to  see  the  fearless  trainer  deal  with  this 
desperate  brute,  and  thev  saw  him  quickly  reduce  it  to  complete  do- 
cility.    Then  Professor  Gleason  went  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  then 


—  489  — 

to  Detroit,  Micliigaii.     At  the  latter  city  he  won  great  popuhir  favor. 
Said  Tke  Detroit  Tribune : 

" '  What  a  magnificent  specimen  of  manhood !'  was  heard  on  all 
sides  last  evening  when,  shortly  after  eight  o'clock,  Professor  Gleason 
strolled  leisurel}'  upon  the  sawdust  at  the  Princess  Rink,  drawiuo-  a 
long  buggy  whip  carelessly  through  his  left  hand.  He  is  very  tall 
and  has  not  an  ouuce  of  superfluous  flesh  on  his  entire  frame.  Hand- 
ing his  broad-brim  white  felt  hat  to  one  of  his  three  assistants,  he  ex- 
posed a  countenance  that  he  is  both  handsome  and  intellectual.  His 
forehead  is  high  and  broad,  and  a  long,  light-colored  moustache  almost 
concealed  the  mouth  that  is  remarkable  for  lines  of  firmness.  He 
looks  every  inch  the  man  born  to  command.  He  was  attired  in  h'gh 
top  boots,  light  knee  breeches,  and  loose  blouse  waists  customary  with 
horsemen." 

And  later  on  The  Detroit  Free  Press  said  : 

"  There  is  no  doubt  that  if  Professor  Gleason  continues  his  instruc- 
tive and  deeply  interesting  exhibitions  for  a  month  to  come  the  Prin- 
cess Rink  would  be  filled  nightly  with  delighted  and  astonished  spec- 
tators. Added  to  the  novelty  of  the  entertainments  is  the  fact  that 
they  serve  as  one  of  the  best  possible  schools,  not  alone  for  the  training 
and  taming  of  ungovernable  horses,  but  also  for  the  education  of  peo- 
ple who,  through  necessity  or  inclination  have  the  handling  of  the 
noblest  of  animals.  Last  evening's  entertainment  was  simply  a  repe- 
tition of  former  successes,  and  additional  proof  that  Professor  Gleason 
is  the  monarch  of  horse  educators." 

A  few  evenings  before  the  end  of  his  season  in  Detroit,  a  pleasant 
incident  occurred,  which  was  described  by  The  Detroit  Tribune  as 
follows : 

"  After  the  fir?t  part  of  the  entertainment  last  evening,  Lawyer 
James  H.  Pound  walked  into  the  ring  and  announced  that  he  had  been 
delegated  by  a  committee  of  citizens  to  present  Professor  Gleason 
with  an  elegant  diamond  stud  as  a  mark  of  their  admiration  for  him 
as  a  horse  trainer  and  their  esteem  on  account  of  the  good  which  he 
has  done  in  this  city  by  way  of  showing  how^  dumb  animals  should  be 
humanely  used  and  cared  for.  Mr.  Pound  also  alluded  to  the  bill 
now  before  Cono-ress  to  create  the  office  of  Instructor  General  in  the 


—  490  — 

cavalry  service  for  Pnjfessor  Gleasou   and  said  he  hoped  it  would  be- 
come a  law.     He  closed  by  presenting  the  stud,  which  cost  $300." 

At  Saginaw,  Mich,,  the  next  place  visited,  he  received  the  following 
letter  from  H.  C.  Shepard,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  successful  horse- 
trainere  in  that  State  : 

"Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  splendid  entertainments 
you  have  given  us  during  the  past  two  weeks.  Your  agent  called  into 
my  place  of  business,  advertising  your  exhibition,  and  I  entered  into 
a  controversy  with  him  in  relation  to  your  method  of  handling  wild 
and  vicious  horses,  and  to  say  that  I  was  full  and  running  over  with 
prejudice  toward  you  would  be  putting  it  very  mild.  I  offered  to 
wager  any  sum  of  money  that  your  system  would  do  for  an  entertain- 
ment, but  that  it  must  prove  a  failure  for  every-day  work.  I  attended 
your  exhibition  at  the  Park  Rink  the  first  night  with  the  same  feel- 
ings. That  evening,  you  will  remember,  you  were  disappointed  by 
parties  who  promised  to  bring  vicious  horses,  and  you  appeared  at  a 
great  disadvantage.  I  then  saw^  a  small  hole  through  my  argument. 
When  I  again  attended  the  exhibition  you  were  called  upon  to  handle 
some  bad  kickers  and  vicious  horses,  and  I  then  realized  your  power 
and  the  practicability  of  your  methods.  Right  here  I  wish  to  ac- 
knowledge myself  wrong,  and  wish  to  say  further  that  I  have  seen 
horse-trainers  perform  for  the  past  20  years,  and  have  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  all  methods  advanced,  but  am  compelled  to  say  that  in  my 
opinion  they  all  pale  into  nothingness  when  compared  to  the  only 
Gleason." 

For  four  weeks  in  April  and  May,  1888,  Professor  Gleason  gave 
exhibitions  in  Chicago  before  vast  crowds  of  interested  spectators.  One 
evening  he  handled  a  large  and  handsome  bay  horse  that  was  a  bad 
halter-puller  and  shyer.  It  took  only  a  five-minutes'  application  of 
the  "fore-and-aft"  halter  contrivance  to  satisfy  the  horse  that  halter- 
pulling  was  neither  graceful  nor  proper.  The  horse  was  then  hitched 
up  with  a  dashing  little  black  and  driven  around  the  "  salvation  band  " 
and  through  a  hissing  shower  of  steam.  They  kicked  and  reared 
when  they  first  saw  the  steam,  but  the  second  time  they  started  for  it 
they  went  right  through,  and  the  third  time  they  stood  under  it  as  if 
they  liked  to  feel  its  warming  influence  on  their  glistening  sides  and 


—  491  — 

backs.  They  also  remained  perfectly  still  while  flags  were  waved  be- 
fore their  eyes,  paper  tossed  in  showers  around  their  heads,  and  guns 
fired  behind  their  ears.  The  little  black  had  a  bob  tail,  which  the 
Professor  did  not  admire.  He  said  a  horse's  tail  was  intended  to  be 
a  protection  to  his  body,  and  he  thought  that  a  man  who  would  cut  it 
off  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  penitentiary. 

An  "  expert  "  view  of  Gleason  and  his  work  was  given  in  The  Chi- 
cago Horseman  of  March  22d,  1888,  wdth  reference  to  his  lecture  be- 
fore the  Chicago  Veterinary  College.     It  said  : 

"  On  the  subject  of  practical  horseshoeing  the  Professor  is  very  en- 
thusiastic, rightly  claiming  that  more  horses  are  injured  from  ignorant 
and  incompetent  shoers  than  from  any  other  cause,  and  believes  that 
every  sheer,  besides  serving  an  apprenticeship,  should  pass  an  exami- 
nation as  in  other  professions  before  he  is  allowed  to  practice,  rightly 
claiming  that  with  the  passage  of  such  a  law^  the  frequency  with  which 
lame  horses  are  seen  on  our  streets  would  soon  disappear.  The 
methods  employed  by  Professor  Gleason  in  subduing  the  vicious  ani- 
mals and  converting  them  into  docile  and  valuable  servants  are  hu- 
mane, consistent  with  safety  to  the  life  and  limb  to  the  person  handling 
the  animal. 

"  We  notice  by  the  da'ly  papers  that  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the 
Senate  by  Senator  Hampton  for  the  purchasing  and  publishing  of  a 
book  on  the  great  art  of  training  and  educating  the  horse,  said  book 
to  be  published  by  Professor  O.  R.  Gleason ;  also  the  employment  of 
the  said  Professor  Gleason  by  the  government  to  teach  and  lecture 
on  his  system  of  training  and  educating,  the  science  of  horseshoeing, 
and  how  to  purchase  horses  for  the  government  service.  This  bill  was 
referred  to  the  Military  Committee,  and  Ave  understand  has  the  hearty 
support  not  only  of  its  members  but  of  the  majority  of  the  Senate 
and  House,  the  greater  number  of  which  bodies  have  had  the  pleasure 
of  attending  Professor  Gleasou's  exhibitions  and  witnessing  his  suc- 
cessful attempts  in  subjugating  the  most  vicious  and  heretofore  untam- 
able animals  brought  before  him.  That  such  an  office  is  needed,  there 
is  no  question,  and  we  know  of  no  man  in  the  country  so  well  quali- 
fied by  reason  of  his  great  experience  and  success  as  Professor  O.  R. 
Gleason. 

**  To  give  our  readers  some  idea  of  the  vast  amount  of  work  he  has 


—  492  — 

d  >ue  the  past  year,  we  will  sla  ^  iluit  during  the  past  12  months  he  hai 
brokeu,  hitched,  and  driven  over  1,700  horses. 

"  The  inventions  and  metht^ds,  the  results  of  long  years  of  experi- 
ence and  carefal  study,  and  found  to  be  the  mos  practical,  are  sliown 
to  thousands  of  people  nightly  and  the  Professor  is  always  willing  to 
show  and  explain  everything  connected  with  his  art  that  is  not  thor- 
ou^j-hlv  understood,  claiming  that  a  man  that  would  withhold  informa- 
tion that  would  relieve  a  suffering  animal  is  as  brutish  as  he  is  mer- 
cenary. 

"  The  entertainments  he  has  furnislied  for  the  last  two  weeks  at 
Battery  D,  in  this  city,  have  been  very  largely  attended,  and  we 
noticed  many  of  our  best  citizens  in  the  reserved  balconies,  and  as 
some  particularly  vicious  animal  was  brought  into  the  arena  and  after 
passing  through  the  master's  hand^j  trotted  around  the  ring  like  a  well- 
behaved  family  animal,  rounds  of  applause  greeted  the  lecturer. 

"In  private  life  Professor  Gleason  is  of  a  genial  and  unassuming 
nature,  charitable  to  a  fault,  having  given  away  during  his  tour  large 
sums  of  money  and  often  devoting  his  entire  evening  receipts  to  the 
Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals,  the  Newsboys' 
Home,  and  other  deserving  public  charities." 

To  trace  Professor  Gleason 's  career  in  detail  down  to  the  present 
day  would  be  to  repeat  again  and  again  w'hat  has  already  been  told, 
of  exhibitions  of  his  marvellous  skill  in  many  cities  before  admiring 
thousands.  A  few  more  letters  from  among  the  vast  numbers  written 
to  him  and  about  him  may  well,  however,  be  quoted.     Here  is  one : 

Richmond,  Va.,  December  10th,  1883. 
To  whom  it  may  concern : 

It  has  been  my  privilege  to  attend  some  of  Mr.  Gleason's  exhibi- 
tions of  his  system  of  horse-training.  I  have  seen  him  managing 
horses  of  various  temperaments,  some  highly  nervous,  some  balky,  and 
some  that  would  be  called  stubborn,  and  it  affords  me  much  pleasure 
to  be  able  to  say  that  I  have  been  very  favorably  impressed  with  his 
skill,  which  indeed  amounts  to  science,  as  well  as  with  his  perseverance 
and  patience. 

I  have  been  greatly  pleased  also  with  Ids  ideas  of  horseshoeing, 
which  I  heard  from  him  in  my  personal  interviews  with  him.  Con- 
vinced, as  I  have  been,  from  many  years'   observation  and  study  of 


—  493  — 

tho  matter,  that  horses  are  crippled  more  by  l)ad  shoeing  than  by 
almosL  any  other  (;ause,  I  believe  that  could  our  blacksmiths  be  induced 
to  adopt  his  system  it  would  be  a  great  mercy  to  these  faithful  servants 
of  man,  as  well  as  a  source  of  much  profit  and  comfort  to  them- 
S'Blves. 

I  am  persuaded  that  Mr.  Gleason  is  worthy  of  the  confidence  and 
gratitude  of  every  true  lover  of  horses.  A.  G.  Armstrong, 

Rector  of  Monumental  Church,  and  President  of  Virginia  Society  Jor 
Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals, 

And  here  is  a  second : 

Baltimore,  August  6th,  1888. 

To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

This  is  to  certify  that  I  have  attended  several  of  the  exhibitions 
given  by  Professor  O.  R.  Gleason.  His  method  of  controlling  and 
subduing  vicious  horses  is  wonderful.  To  my  knowledge  he  has  been 
successful  in  subduing  a  number  of  animals  that  were  given  up  as 
worthless  by  other  so-called  horse  educators. 

I  have  seen  his  work  on  horse-training  advertised,  and  if  in  print 
would  secure  a  copy  at  once,  as  I  believe  it  to  be  a  work  necessary  to 
every  horse  owner,  especially  those  liable  to  have  a  vicious  animal.  I 
cheerfully  recommend  the  work  to  any  one  in  need  of  such  an  article, 
as  the  Professor's  methods  are  second  to  none. 

W.  H.  Wray,  D.  V.  S., 
Chief  V,  S.    Veterinary  Inspector,  Maryland. 

And  here  a  third  : 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  2d,  1887. 

Professor  0.  It.  Gleason : 

Sir  : — With  the  compliments  of  the  undersigned,  after  witnessing 

your  wonderful  power  and  control  over  the  equine  race,  and  desiring 

to  recognize  your  exhibition  in  the  capitol  of  this  nation,  I  present  to 

you  this  pen,  used  by  Chester  A.  Arthur,  President  of  the  United 

States  of  America,  in  signing  his  name  to  the  different  Acts  passed  by 

the  Concrress  which  closed  his  official  career  as  the  Executive  of  this 

great  nation. 

Eugene  P.  Corvaizier, 

Private  Messenger  of  Chester  A.  Arthur,  President  of  the  United  States. 


—  494  — 

Here  in  the  Iieight  of  the  powers  of  manhood,  and  in  the  flood-tide 
of  .succe.-s,  we  may  well  leave  our  subject;  commending  his  example 
aod  precepts  to  all  who  are  inspired  with  humane  impulses,  and  to  all 
who  love  and  value  that  most  handsome,  most  noble,  and  most  useful 
of  man's  animal  friends,  the  horse. 


A  FEW  TESTIlVIOHlflLiS 

To  the   LUoKth  o* 

PJ^OFESSOH  CliEASOlM 

HfiD  THH  HIGH  ESTEEM  Ifi  WHICH  HE  IS  HEliD  BY  PJ^OIWIHEHT 
^EH  IH  THIS   COUHTF?Y  A^O   IH  CRH^DR.. 


**  The  mare  you  trained  for  us  not  for  sale  at  any  price." — C.  Haase 
&  Co. J  Chicago. 


"  Professor  Gleason  has  achieved  a  success  that  no  other  man  can 
claim." —  Chicago  Horseman. 


"Horsemen  will  do  well  to  follow  Professor  Gleason's  methods." — 
C.  J*  Hamilin,  Buffalo.  N.  Y.  (pimier  of  the  fastest  team  in  the  world). 


"  On  behalf  of  some  of  the  horse  owners  of  the  city  of  Toronto,  I  take 
the  opportunity  to  present  you  with  this  purse  as  a  small  token  of  es- 
teem."— Alexander  Munyiing,  Mayor  of  Toronto,  Canada. 


*'  Horsemanship,  like  generalship,  is  a  natural  endowment.  ...  In 
my  opinion  you  control  largely  by  force  of  your  dominant  superiority 
over  the  brute  creation." — H.  L.   Whitney,  Boston. 


"  Proftssor  Gleason  is  a  good  friend  of  the  horse,  as  a  surgeon  is  the 
good  friend  of  mankind." — Naw  York  Mail  and  Express^  Editorial. 


"  Professor  Gleason  easily  handled  '  Kysdiek,'  who  is  described  by 
his  owner  as  s  *  poly-jointed  combination  of  steel  springs,  dynamite, 
and  the  devil.'" — Neiv  York  Herald. 

—  493  — 


494  — 


**  Even  runaways,  after  having  been  treated  by  Professor  Gleason, 
seemed  to  be  inspired  by  a  passionate  love  for  the  bass  drum." — Nevj 
York  Star, 


"Astounding  and  satisfactory." — New   York  Sportsman, 


"He  defies  the  cranks  and  subdues  the  horses." — New  York  Tnbune. 


Gleason  is  doing  valuable  work." — New  York  Sportsman, 


"  Beyond  praise." — Neiv  York  Mail  and  Express. 


*'  A  truly  wonderful  man." — New  York  World, 


"  The  speediest  and  best  educator  extant." — 0,  C,  Fraley^  Veterinary 

Surgeon,  New  York  City. 


Marvelous." — Lewiston  (J^le.)  Gazette, 


"  Permit  me  to  say  that  your  phenomenal  success  and  skill  excited 
the  comment  of  such  experienced  showmen  as  Adam  Forepaugh  and  P. 
T.  Barnum,  whose  united  shows  could  not  possibly  do  more  than  you 
have  done — i.  e.,  pack  Madison  Square  Garden  from  centre  to  circum- 
ference."— Louis  E.  Cooke,  Manager  ForepaugKs  Circus. 


"  Phenomenal." — New  York  Morning  Journal. 


"Madison  Square  Garden  was  packed,  and  at  least  a  thousand  peo- 
ple turned  away." — New  York  Daily  News. 


"  The  Professor  eliminated  all  that  was  demoniacal  in  the  animal's 
nature." — New  York  Times. 

"These  exhibitions  and  methods  are  very  instructive." — Baltimore 
American, 


"  This  is  to  certify  that  I  own  a  mare  who  has  been  justly  termed  *  the 
star  kicker  of  Prince  George's  County,  Maryland.*     The  person  who 


—  49S  — 

attempted  to  harness  her  took  his  life  in  his  hand.  I  had  the  mare 
brought  up  from  my  farm  in  Maryland,  and  took  her  to  Professor 
Gleasou.  After  one  trial  the  mare  was  thoroughly  subdued,  and  is 
now  as  docile  as  a  lamb.  I  give  this  certificate  to  Professor  Gleason 
unasked,  as  a  tt  SLimony  to  his  skill  and  as  a  slight  appreciation  of  the 
service  rendered  me  in  transforming  a  worthless  animal  into  a  valua- 
ble one,  as  the  mare  is  now  safe  in  any  harness,  fit  even  for  a  lady  to 

drive  with  perfect  safety. 

"  Major  A.  O.  Brummel, 
"Member  House  of  Represeniatives,  Washington,*' 


"  Decidedly  successfiil." — Courier,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


"  Nearly  every  horseman  in  town  was  present  at  the  perforraance/*- 
.Record,  Wilkes- Barre,  Pa. 


"  The  instruction  given  in  his  lectures  is  invaluable." — The  Inquirer , 
Philadelphia. 

"  The  Professor  is  undoubtedly  a  great  man." — St  Louis  Sunday 
Sayings. 

"  Among  those  present  were  Senator  Edmunds  and  family,  who  com- 
mended Professor  Gleason  highly  for  the  success  of  his  original 
methods." — National  Repuhlican. 


"  His  methods  and  success  are  marvelous." — Pittsburgh  Tiroes 


**  A  wonderful  exhibition." — Detroit  Free  Press. 


"  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you.  I  have  seen  many  horse-trainers, 
but  all  part  into  nothingness  before  the  only  Gleason," — H.  C.  Shep- 
hard,  Detroit,  Mich,  {the  oldest  professional  horseman  in  the  State). 


"Professor  O.  R.  Gleason's  lecture  last  Aveek  before  the  Chicago 
Veterinary  College,  of  which  Professor  Baker  is  president,  was  listened 
to  with  great  attention,  and  at  its  close  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed, 
and  three  rousing  cheers  were  given  in  his  honor." — Chicago  Horseman, 


—  496 


*'  I  am  persuaded  that  Professor  Gleason  is  worthy  of  the  confidence 
and  gratitude  of  every  true  lov^er  of  horses." — A.  G.  Armstrong,  Presi- 
dent Virginia  Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals. 


"Tlie    Professor's   methods   are  second    to    none." — W.   H.   Wray, 
D.  V.  S.,  Baltimore,  Chief  U.  S.  Veterinary  Inspector. 


*'  I  have  been  associated  with  and  have  known  all  the  horsemen  of 
note  in  forty  years,  and  have  no  hesitancy  in  pronouncing  Professor 
O.  R.  Gleason  the  king  of  hoi*semen,  for  there  is  not  his  equal  in  the 
country." — Prof.  Charles  Henie,  Hartford^  Cotuu 


